Bears defensive end Montez Sweat
returns from PED suspension and apologizes to teammates
[October 28, 2026]
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Chicago Bears defensive end Montez
Sweat didn’t explain why he failed a performance-enhancing drug test
and received a two-week suspension, but he did make it clear how
much it hurt absorbing the penalty.
The former Pro Bowl defensive end missed the last two games while
serving the suspension but returned this week and is practicing for
Monday night’s game against the Seattle Seahawks.
“I just want to apologize to my teammates, the fan base, everybody,
but I’m moving forward now,” Sweat said Tuesday.
Sweat reportedly will lose some guarantees on his contract as a
result of the suspension.
“Yeah, it’s definitely something I got to live with my career,” he
said. “I never want to cheat the game, and I would never do it
intentionally, but what happened happened and I’m moving forward.”
Without going into detail, Sweat characterized his PED use as an
accident.
“It was a surprise, but you take a lick on the chin and keep moving
forward,” he said.
The Bears beat Atlanta and New England without Sweat, who has two
sacks on the season.
“It was devastating,” Sweat said. “I’m just happy to be back in the
building with my teammates. I think that’s what I missed the most,
just being in the locker room around my guys.”
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The two wins came as defensive coordinator Dennis
Allen used more blitzes to put pressure on Atlanta's Michael Penix
Jr. and New England's Drake Maye. Slot cornerback Tyrique Stevenson
has been especially effective on the blitz and had four sacks in the
two games. Special teams player Daniel Hardy moved into the
defensive end rotation and has contributed to the pass rush.
“Amazing,” Sweat said. “It’s always, in the NFL, a next-man-up
mentality. They didn’t miss a beat.”
Maybe the most difficult part for Sweat was facing coach Ben Johnson
after hearing about the suspension.
“It was tough,” Sweat said. “Nobody wants to look someone in the eye
after you’ve done something detrimental like that to the team, but
those are things you have to do to move forward.”
Sweat made the Pro Bowl after the 2023 season, when he was acquired
near the trade deadline for a second-round draft pick from
Washington. He had 35 1/2 sacks with Washington in 4 1/2 seasons and
has 23 1/2 sacks with the Bears.
Sweat signed a four-year, $98 million contract extension shortly
after coming to the Bears. The deal runs through next season.
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