Bears TE Cole Kmet hated missing the 1st game of his NFL career

The Chicago Bears didn’t have tight end Cole Kmet in the lineup for last week’s loss against the Baltimore Ravens, and it was a rare occurrence.

A second-round pick out of Notre Dame in the 2020 NFL Draft, Kmet had appeared in 90 straight games for the Bears prior to Sunday’s absence, and missed the first game of his pro career Sunday.

As he prepares for a potential return this week against the Cincinnati Bengals, Kmet admits it was an odd feeling to not be out on the field, and not something he wants to repeat anytime soon:

As the Bears have added a ton of young pass-catchers over the past couple of seasons, Kmet’s role in the passing game has dwindled so far this season. That said, he’s still making a big impact when the ball does come his way, averaging nearly 15 yards per reception.

Kmet returned to practice Wednesday, which is a good sign for his chances of being back on the field when the Bears take on the Bengals in Week 9.