Montez Sweat expected to make Bears debut in Week 9 vs Saints
The Chicago Bears are expecting to see a new face on the field along with the rest of head coach Matt Eberflus' defensive unit in Week 9. Bears new star defensive end Montez Sweat is expected to make his debut with the team against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. The Bears traded their 2024 […]
The Chicago Bears are expecting to see a new face on the field along with the rest of head coach Matt Eberflus' defensive unit in Week 9.
Bears new star defensive end Montez Sweat is expected to make his debut with the team against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
The Bears traded their 2024 second-round pick earlier in the week to the Washington Commanders in order to acquire Sweat before the NFL trade deadline.
"I'm grateful, blessed, happy to be here," Sweat said on his first day at Halas Hall on Wednesday. "I'm just happy to be here and ready to get to work."
Sweat has recorded 6.5 sacks, 32 tackles, and 2 forced fumbles in eight games played with the Commanders in 2023. Sweat had 1.5 sacks against his new team back in Week 5 and now is ready to bring that level of production to the other sideline.
Sweat has recorded a sack in each of his last two games. The Chicago Bears entire defense has just 10.0 combined sacks in the entire season. Sweat spoke on Wednesday about what he believes stands out about his play and how it will help improve the team's defense going forward.
"I think I'm a very strong, hard working, and tenacious player," he said. "I really just want to get better everyday and I know I still got a long way to go. I'm happy with being the player that I am."
The Bears spent high draft capital to acquire Sweat before the 2023 NFL trade deadline closed on Tuesday, however, Bears general manager Ryan Poles believes Sweat can be a special player for the team's defense.
"We expect him to come here and help our entire team get better," Poles said. "We see him as a long, fast, explosive, relentless defensive end that can help us both in the run and in the pass game, and really, I see him as a multiplier. He's going to allow everyone to play better; our entire defensive front, our corners, our safeties."
Sweat will be playing alongside fellow Bears pass rushers Yannick Ngakoue and DeMarcus Walker. Ngakoue and linebacker T.J. Edwards lead the Bears with 2.0 sacks each in 2023. Sweat's presence will certainly make a difference for the unit on Sunday.
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