(670 The Score) In making the bold move to acquire proven pass rusher Montez Sweat from the Commanders in early November, the Bears envisioned that he'd be a consistent, disruptive force for their defense.
Sweat has certainly made plays for Chicago, but he hasn't received as much playing time as most thought he'd get. In the Bears' 31-26 loss to the Lions on Sunday at Ford Field, Sweat played just 39 snaps – 63% of the defensive plays.
In three games with the Bears, Sweat has played 67% of the team’s defensive snaps. By comparison, Lions star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson played 92% of his team's defensive snaps Sunday and has been on the field for 89% of Detroit’s defensive plays this season.
“You just got to platoon them and get them in there fresh,” Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said of why Sweat didn't play more. “And when those lead dogs are fresh, you put them back in. You just got to do that because those guys are throwing their fastball every time.
“Sweat’s one of our best players, he really is and that’s just how we do it. We platoon our guys and keep them fresh that way. That’s how we do it.”
Sweat played 69% of the defensive snaps for the Commanders in the first eight games of the season, though that figure is a bit lower than what the reality was because he dealt with a thumb injury during a game on Oct. 15.
The Bears dealt a second-round pick to the Commanders in exchange for Sweat, who then signed a four-year deal with Chicago worth up to $98 million.
Sweat recorded his first sack with the Bears in their loss to the Lions on Sunday.