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Ryan Poles Just Raised the Stakes for Montez Sweat
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- Ryan Poles Just Raised the Stakes for Montez Sweat
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Montez Sweat is returning to a Bears defense that changed considerably while he was away. His former college teammate Jeffery Simmons is now lining up inside, and general manager Ryan Poles expects the reunion to produce more than excitement.
Asked Friday about Simmons' potential effect on Sweat, Poles made his expectation clear. "I think he elevates his game being around Jeffery, and that's our expectation," Poles said .
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That puts an important question alongside the celebration of Chicago's blockbuster trade: how much better can Simmons make the players already here?
Sweat has a chance to provide an early answer. He missed Chicago's wins over Atlanta and New England while serving a two-game suspension for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing substances policy. He had two sacks and four quarterback hits in five games before the suspension.
The Bears need more disruption from a player who has already shown he can deliver it. Sweat recorded 10 sacks last season. This year, his return coincides with the arrival of an interior defender who should command considerable attention from opposing protection plans.
Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (98) storms the field before the game against the Cleveland Browns at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026.
Simmons had 11 sacks in 2025 and four in his first seven games this season. He is also someone offensive lines must account for before the quarterback even receives the snap. How they choose to block him could alter the opportunities available to Sweat on the edge.
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Poles explained Friday that pressure through the middle can open things outside. A quarterback who cannot comfortably step forward has fewer ways to escape an edge rusher coming around the tackle. Extra help devoted to Simmons could also leave another defender with a more favorable matchup.
Those possibilities make the partnership appealing. They also give Sweat a responsibility to capitalize when the opportunity comes.
Dennis Allen expects the benefit to extend across the defense. Asked about Sweat specifically, the defensive coordinator said that everyone could gain from having a disruptive player inside. Quicker pressure could hurry the quarterback and reduce the time Chicago's secondary has to cover.
Allen also cautioned that Simmons cannot change the entire defense by himself. That qualification applies to the expectations for Sweat, too. Offensive lines will still have different ways to organize their protection, and a favorable matchup does not guarantee a successful rush. The Bears must coordinate their work and finish the plays that become available.
Matt Marton-Imagn Images
The college connection adds another reason Chicago believes the combination can work. Simmons and Sweat played together at Mississippi State before both became first-round picks in 2019. They know each other beyond scouting reports and practice introductions.
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After his first Bears practice Friday , Simmons spoke enthusiastically about being back with Sweat. Poles said Sweat was focused and ready for the reunion. Chicago is betting that their familiarity will help them establish a productive partnership quickly.
There is still work to do before that partnership reaches its potential. Simmons arrived Thursday and began learning a new defense ahead of Monday's game in Seattle. Allen said the staff would concentrate on the immediate game plan, then expand Simmons' responsibilities as his understanding grows.
That makes a single game an incomplete test. Simmons' arrival should be judged over a stretch of performances, with attention to pressures, disrupted throws and the opportunities created for teammates as well as sacks.
For Sweat, though, the direction is clear. Chicago has invested heavily in a player who could improve the conditions around him. The Bears now want their established edge rusher to turn those conditions into more impactful football.
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Poles was asked whether Sweat's finish to the season could affect his future with the team. His response focused on the opportunities Simmons can create and the higher level he expects from Sweat. It would be premature to turn that into a specific ultimatum about next season.
There is enough significance in what Poles said directly. The Bears expect Simmons to lift Sweat's game, and Sweat returns with a chance to meet that expectation in meaningful games for a 5-2 team.
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