Saint Viator Alum Cole Kmet Likely Out For Season: Report

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — Bears tight end Cole Kmet, who starred at Saint Viator High School in Arlington Heights, is believed to have suffered a serious knee injury that could end his season, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Friday.

Kmet was undergoing additional testing Friday, and the outcome was not yet final, according to Rapoport's report.

The 27-year-old was carted off during the fourth quarter of Chicago's 30-24 victory over the New England Patriots at Soldier Field on Thursday night.

Kmet went down after an 8-yard reception and grabbed his right knee. Athletic trainers helped him to his feet, but he could not put weight on his right leg. He gave the crowd a thumbs-up as he left on the cart.

"I don't think it looked very good," Bears head coach Ben Johnson said afterward.

Strong Arlington Heights Ties

Kmet's football career took him from Saint Viator to Notre Dame before the Bears selected him with the 43rd overall pick in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

He grew up rooting for the Bears in Lake Barrington, and his family later moved to Arlington Heights. Kmet was at the family's Arlington Heights home when he received the draft-night call from his favorite team. The following day, friends and neighbors organized a roughly 45-minute parade of cars past the home to celebrate.

The family's local football connections extend to his father, Frank Kmet, who played on a state championship team at Hersey High School in Arlington Heights and later spent the 1993 season on the Bears’ practice squad.

Injury Clouds Bears' Win

Kmet caught three passes for 28 yards against New England before leaving. Through seven games this season, he has 10 receptions for 87 yards and a touchdown.

Now in his seventh season, Kmet has spent his entire NFL career with Chicago. If he is sidelined for the remainder of the year, the Bears would turn to a tight end group that includes Colston Loveland and rookie Sam Roush.

Thursday's victory improved Chicago to 5-2 and gave the Bears their fourth win in five games.