No team is immune to season-ending injuries. That doesn't make them any less devastating when they happen. Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet went down with a knee injury during the Week 7 win over the New England Patriots, and since the end of the game, Bears head coach Ben Johnson ruled him out for the season; he will go on IR.
Kmet isn't technically a starter for the Bears, but he plays a crucial role in Johnson's offense. With him out of the picture, third-round rookie Sam Roush will need to step up in a big way.
If his early-season performances are any indication, Roush might not be ready to fill Kmet's shoes just yet.
Sam Roush needs to step up for Bears after Cole Kmet's injury
So far this season, Roush has settled into a minor role, playing between 20 and 30 snaps per game. He's mostly used in 13 personnel sets, which Johnson likes to lean on, especially on early downs. Roush hasn't been much of a factor in the passing game (he has just three catches this year), and he's been a decent but not field-tilting blocker.
That level of impact won't cut it anymore. The Bears can't expect Roush to be a one-for-one Kmet replacement, but he'll need to fill some of the roles that the injured tight end played.
Kmet averaged over 40 snaps per game and was used mostly as a blocker, allowing Loveland to be moved around the formation. But he also took around three targets each game, usually as a checkdown option.
Roush doesn't need to suddenly become an elite receiver, but he needs to be reliable for the Bears.
Bears' Cole Kmet injury will force Ben Johnson to get more creative than ever
Johnson may not be ready to trust Roush to replace Kmet, at least not fully. If that's the case, the Bears have two options: Add a tight end through free agency or the trade market, or shift their scheme to hide their newfound limitations.
Johnson has more than earned Bears fans' trust when it comes to making adjustments on offense. Still, this will be a new challenge for the head coach.
Chicago currently ranks fourth in both 13-personnel rate and 12-personnel rate. They have multiple tight ends on the field more often than any other team in the NFL, according to SumerSports.
Without Kmet in the mix, Loveland and Roush are the only tight ends on the active roster. Even if they add someone in the coming weeks, that will require a schematic shift.
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One possible answer is getting the receivers involved in the run-blocking game more directly. Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay is an expert at this, using Puka Nacua as a pseudo-tight end by putting him in motion before the snap. Expect something similar from Johnson as he figures out how to compensate for the loss of Kmet.
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