Montez Sweat’s play time shows troubling issue in Lions debacle

Bears snap count: Montez Sweat’s play time shows troubling issue in Lions debacle

originally appeared on
NBC Sports Chicago

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — When the Bears traded for Montez Sweat and signed him to a $98 million contract extension, they expected him to be a key player on their defense. However, in the recent game against the Lions, Sweat’s playtime raised some red flags.

Despite being brought to Chicago for critical situations, Sweat only played 39 snaps in the loss to the Detroit Lions, accounting for 63 percent of the Bears’ total defensive snaps. This was significantly less compared to other edge rushers.

Sweat was off the field during important third-down and red-zone plays, which ultimately impacted the Bears’ performance. Although head coach Matt Eberflus defended the rotation, it’s clear that the team needs Sweat to have a more consistent impact.

Even with just 39 snaps, Sweat managed to have a sack, but it was evident that the Lions stifled his performance, allowing other players to shine. The Bears are thus facing a challenge in optimizing Sweat’s presence on the field, especially during critical moments in the game.

As seen in the snap count breakdown, there’s a pressing need for improvement in utilizing Sweat’s talents to ensure the Bears maximize his impact. The Bears should look to other successful edge rushers, who play a higher percentage of snaps in comparison.

The expectations for Sweat are high, and the staff must address the issue that arose in Detroit. Optimizing Sweat’s playtime will be crucial for the Bears to achieve defensive success.

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