The Chicago Bears are back from their bye week and are ready to take the field against the Washington Commanders on Monday Night Football. The early break allowed certain players to get some rest, including rookie tight end Colston Loveland, who was dealing with a hip injury. Although he missed Oct. 7 practice, Loveland was back the following day and looks ready to return to the field.
Head coach Ben Johnson previously said he will do a better job getting the tight ends involved (h/t @CHGO_Bears), which fans want to see with Loveland since he was the 10th overall pick in April. The rookie TE's potential also has Chicago fans wondering how much longer fellow tight end Cole Kmet will last in the Windy City.
Even though a concrete trade partner hasn't emerged yet, the injury to Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange opened the door that the Bears must barge through.
Jaguars TE Brenton Strange's Injury Opens Door for Cole Kmet Trade
The Jaguars placed stranged on injured reserve with a hip injury this week, per NFL insider Adam Schefter, meaning he won't be eligible to return until Week 11 at the earliest. He's slated to miss at least the next four games, creating a void in the tight end room, as Strange is first on the team in catches (20) and second in receiving yards (204).
The Jags have shown they like to throw the ball to their tight ends, and Kmet could be a player who would be productive for them. It's clear the Bears look at Loveland as the future at the position, so getting some draft capital in return for Kmet while creating some cap space would be a nice swap.
This season, Kmet has seven catches for 116 receiving yards and a score. He's also signed through the 2027 season at $11.6 million a year. There's an out after the 2026 campaign with just a $3.2 million dead cap hit, according to Spotrac. Even if his cap hit isn't attractive, his contract can be restructured due to multiple years remaining on it.
Brian Thomas Jr. is Jacksonville's No. 1 target, and they are increasing Travis Hunter's role offensively; however, the dual-threat rookie is still playing both sides of the ball. That limits his full capacity on the offensive end, making a trade for another playmaker like Kmet more intriguing.
Throw in the fact that the Jaguars will want to maintain the momentum stemming from their 4-1 start, and the Bears have every reason to offer them Kmet. It might take some convincing from general manager Ryan Poles, but it's clear that Chicago has an answer to Jacksonville's new problem.
The Bears don't seem to be fully bought in that Kmet will be around for the long haul. With this chance to potentially get something back in return, Poles must call the Jaguars about a potential trade, especially if the Chicago GM can use their desperation to his advantage.