The Chicago Bears suffered a tough 30-16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens last Sunday and now need an immediate response in the NFC North when they face the Cincinnati Bengals this Sunday to prevent the Packers (5-1-1) and Lions (5-2) from extending their leads in the division title race.
With an inconsistent campaign in the current regular season (4-3), the Bears continue to deal with a considerable list of injured players, directly impacting the performance of the team as a whole. At least the latest updates involving Cole Kmet give fans new hope for Week 9.
Will Cole Kmet Play in Week 9?
Kmet was limited in practice on Thursday while still recovering from back pain. The veteran had high hopes of reaching a new level in the current NFL season after a poor start in 2024.
Fortunately for the Bears, he fully practiced on Friday and is no longer listed with an injury designation for the Week 9 game against the Bengals.
Good injury news for Chicago
Cole Kmet (back) and Tyrique Stevenson (shoulder) are back after missing Week 8.
The Bears will have DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Olamide Zaccheaus after their top 3 receivers were back in practice on Thursday and Friday.
— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) October 31, 2025
Everything indicates that the tight end will be available to head coach Ben Johnson this weekend, in what is a crucial game to quell rumors surrounding a possible trade away from the Bears. In six games this season, Kmet has only nine receptions for 132 yards and one touchdown, figures well below expectations.
It is worth noting that the tight end position has been one of the Bears’ chronic problems in 2025, as Colston Loveland also fails to deliver good performances and appears to be out of step with the intense pace that the NFL demands in more challenging games. However, the rookie still has potential for growth, while Kmet is under pressure to deliver a big performance in Week 9.
MORE: 2-Round 2026 NFL Mock Draft
Kmet will have an excellent opportunity to finally have a significant impact on the season, considering the Bengals’ (who currently rank 32nd in the PFSN Defense Impact metric with a 56.8 score) weakness in defending opposing TEs. Averages of over 70 yards allowed and almost seven receptions conceded per game show their weakness.
In addition, the Bengals are the team that conceded the most touchdowns in the regular season (10), a number that is likely to increase considering the confirmed absence of linebacker Logan Wilson, one of the defense’s key players.
Kmet’s primary opponent in the game will be Knight, one of the worst linebackers in the NFL against the run at the moment. The veteran Bears TE provides a good target for short passes and, above all, a constant threat in the red zone when he is in good form. Facing one of the worst run defenses in the league, expectations for a big performance in Week 9 are even higher.