NEW ORLEANS, LA. — A day after signing a four-year, $98 million contract extension with the Bears, defensive end Montez Sweat made his debut Sunday in the Bears’ 24-17 loss to the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome.
In his Bears debut, the sweat was relatively quiet. That’s to be expected for a player who arrived in Chicago on Wednesday with little time to learn the playbook and build chemistry with his new linemates.
In the loss at New Orleans, Sweat was credited with two tackles and a pass defended. The Bears’ new star edge rusher wasn’t happy with the minimal impact he made against the Saints.
“It wasn’t enough,” Sweat said after the loss. “I have to achieve more. I have to produce more.”
“I got one-on-one fights – I have to win them,” Sweat said later. “I’m going to go back to the drawing board, watch the film and see what I can do better in the future.”
Despite the limited impact, the Bears felt a boost with their newly acquired star edge rusher in the lineup.
“There’s always a boost when a guy like that is dominant and can play the run and the pass,” safety Eddie Jackson said. “I’m pretty sure he wants to do things to clean up and work on plays, learn the playbook so he can be with us more. It’s always a boost when you add new talent to the field.”
When Sweat arrived at Halas Hall on Wednesday, he said he would consider everything before signing a long-term contract to stay with the Bears.
But football is a physical game and long-term protection is paramount.
“It gives me another sense of security to go out there and if I get hurt, I know I’m protected,” Sweat said. “But that’s not really what I’m worried about. I’m worried about dubbing and production.”
The Bears know it will take time for Sweat to get a new program together with new rush partners. Defensive coach Travis Smith worked with Jack Del Rio, Sweat’s old defensive coordinator, so he helped quickly translate the phrases into something Sweat could easily digest.
The Bears’ pass rush had zero sacks and two hurries on Sunday in New Orleans. They need Sweat to make quick progress in adjusting to his new NFL life. The 27-year-old believes this will be possible with hard work on his part.
“It all depends on how much work I put in,” Sweat said. “How much I learn with the coaches and stuff, it can happen quickly.”
The Bears need this.
After Sunday’s loss, they are now 2-7 and are averaging just one sack per game.
The Bears acquired Sweat long-term, but both parties know they need to increase production quickly with the long-term extension now set in stone.
Both are confident it will come…it will just take time.
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