The Chicago Bears introduced defensive end Montez Sweat to the media Wednesday with the hope that he'll be the pass rusher the defensive desperately needs.
The Bears have only 10 sacks in 2023, with the defensive line accounting for just 6.5.
Sweat, meanwhile, has 6.5 of his own. Yeah, he should help.
We learned what number he'll wear on Wednesday, too. It's a good one:
New city, new number pic.twitter.com/ebNitGOifW
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) November 1, 2023
Coach Matt Eberflus didn't say whether Montez Sweat will make his Bears debut Sunday, but it'd be surprising if he didn't. He's in shape and hasn't missed any time with injury. He'll have one primary job against the Saints in Week 9: sack Derek Carr. Veterans like Sweat don't need much adjustment to accomplish that task.
Bears must re-sign Montez Sweat to big contract extension
One thing Chicago Bears fans are worried about most right now is the threat that Sweat will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
The Bears do have a stranglehold on Sweat's free-agency status; they can slap the franchise tag on him and keep him in-house through at least the 2024 season. But that wouldn't be good enough for a fanbase suffering posttraumatic stress after the failed trade for WR Chase Claypool, whom GM Ryan Poles also traded a second-round pick for in 2022. Bears fans need to know Sweat will be a cornerstone defender for at least the next several years.
Sweat, 27, was the Commanders' first-round pick in 2019 (26th overall).
Poles said Wednesday that he's working on a new deal for Sweat; hopefully, it gets done sooner than later.
UPDATE: Matt Eberflus said Friday that Montez Sweat will make his Bears debut on Sunday against the Saints.
Keep it locked on Bears Talk for all things Bears vs. Saints as we march toward Week 9.
