The Chicago Bears have had a loud start to the Ben Johnson era and it could provide some benefits. An undisciplined team that finished with a 5-12 record one year ago, Johnson has coached the Bears hard and has tried to clean up some of the things that sabotaged a 4-2 start.
Even some of the players that Johnson has brought in has felt his wrath in the opening week of camp. But it also puts some incumbents on notice including a veteran who could be on the way out based on his usage during practice.
Cole Kmet’s Days with Bears May Be Numbered
It may be early in camp but Bears tight end Cole Kmet may be one of the first veterans to be swept out with the Johnson era. The former second-round pick has been working with the second team during training camp and it’s looking more likely he could be on his way out of Chicago either by the start of the season or at this year’s trade deadline.
Cole Kmet has consistently been running with the 2’s
— 🗽Sam (@PolesIsHim) July 29, 2025
Kmet’s future came into question when Johnson used his first draft pick to select Michigan tight end Colston Loveland in April’s draft.
Kmet, who is in the second year of a four-year, $50 million extension signed in 2023, enjoyed the first-ream reps during the offseason program as the rookie recovered from a shoulder injury and even laid down the gauntlet as he prepared to defend his job ahead of training camp.
“I think there’s naturally areas where we’re going to compete with one another just because we’re in the same position and we’re both pass catchers,” Kmet said at the beginning of camp. “I always feel like despite if you’re a tight end, running back or wide receiver, we’re all competing with one another for certain roles within the offense. Nowadays they can put you anywhere and so as long as you can show the coaches that you can handle certain things, they’re going to put you all over the field.”
Kmet’s comments offer a little bit of wiggle room. Even if he were to cede the starting spot to Loveland, Johnson could use his creativity to keep him on the field. But during the opening week of camp, that doesn’t seem to be happening.
Johnson was hailed as an offensive mastermind during his time with the Detroit Lions but they used 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends) on 32.2% of their offensive snaps. More damning is that Johnson often used a sixth offensive lineman in short yardage situations which turned Dan Skipper into a cult hero and had Bears offensive lineman Darnell Wright making one-handed grabs during mandatory minicamp.
None of this looks great and it may cause the Bears to offload Kmet’s contract either this year or when they can save $8.4 million with a pre-June 1 cut next offseason. With Johnson looking to get his new players involved, it makes sense that Loveland may have passed Kmet by and have him looking for a different team in the near future.