Raiders Must Watch for Bears' TE Cole Kmet

The Las Vegas Raiders are looking to win their third straight game as they head to Soldier Field this Sunday to take on the Chicago Bears.

The Bears are having a tumultuous season with a 1-5 record and several injuries to key players, including starting quarterback Justin Fields, who injured his throwing hand against the Minnesota Vikings last week.

The Bears also might be without key players like safety Eddie Jackson and rookie offensive tackle Darnell Wright, who did not participate in practice on Thursday.

One player not on the injury report is tight end Cole Kmet, who is having an impressive season for the Bears. Kmet has been one of the top options in the Bears’ passing game since he was selected in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Chicagao Bears tight end Cole Kmet is a weapon they hipe to utilize this weekend vs. the Las Vegas Raiders / Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Kmet and the Bears agreed to a four-year, $50-million contract extension in the offseason, as the Bears solidified him as their tight end of the future.

So far, Kmet has delivered on those expectations. He has caught 25 passes for 240 yards and three touchdowns. Each of these statistics is second on the team behind wide receiver D.J. Moore. Kmet is on pace to shatter his career-best statistics.

Kmet came onto the scene in his rookie season and was productive, catching 28 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns. He would continue to become more involved in the offense in the next few years as Fields took over as the starter, becoming his favorite target.

Kmet is not often considered among the top tight ends in the NFL, but he has been one of the most productive tight ends this season. He is 10th in the league among tight ends in receiving yards and tied for the most receiving touchdowns.

Raiders’ linebackers must be able to stop Kmet over the middle because the Bears will likely start undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent at quarterback. Kmet is a big, reliable target for Bagent, who is making his first start.

Kmet brings so much value to the Bears’ offense as both blocking and receiving tight end, and is a player Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham must account for heavily if the Raiders want to have another impressive defensive game.

The Silver and Black will head out on the road to take on the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Oct. 22, at 1:05 p.m. EDT/10:05 a.m. PDT.

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