Bears rule out Cole Kmet after he is carted off with a knee injury

Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet was carted off the field with a knee injury during Thursday night's game against the New England Patriots, and the Bears quickly ruled him out for the rest of the night. NFL Network's Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport both posted the ruling late in the game.

What is confirmed

Kmet went down Thursday night at Soldier Field and needed a cart to leave. Underdog NFL flagged the cart, and The Athletic's Adam Jahns wrote that Bears players gathered around Kmet before he left, with Kmet giving the crowd a thumbs up on his way off. The team then listed him as out with a knee injury.

What we don't know yet

There is no diagnosis yet. The Bears have not said whether this is a sprain, a ligament injury or something else, and nobody has offered a timeline. Expect imaging on Friday and more from Ben Johnson after that.

Why it matters for RSO owners

A cart exit raises the stakes, but only the scans will say how long Kmet is out.

Colston Loveland is the Bears tight end to know either way. He caught Caleb Williams' last three passes on one drive Thursday, including a 12-yard touchdown, per Underdog NFL. If Kmet misses time, Loveland's snap share and route volume should climb, and the Bears would need to lean on depth tight ends for blocking packages.

What to do now

Kmet owners should not cut or dump him before the diagnosis comes back. If you have a taxi or reserve spot that fits, that is the place to park him once his status is clear. Loveland owners should hold firmly and expect more work. Anyone shopping for a tight end should check Loveland's price now, before Friday's news sets it.

The Thursday game gives Chicago a long gap before its next kickoff, which helps if the injury turns out to be minor.

What to watch next

Watch for Friday's MRI results and any Johnson update. An IR move would end Kmet's next several weeks and settle Loveland as the clear lead tight end. Also watch whether Chicago signs or elevates another tight end before its next game.