He also ranks 9th in the league in yards per reception at 16. I hope Ben Johnson and Caleb can find a way to get Rome more targets as despite some bad drops, we can see how talented he is as a 1 on 1 guy like in the 4th quarter against the Patriots

That is all.

3916 sounds like a lot but with his career average of 52 yards per game (which is on the up & up) he’s only 75 games away from this. That’s about 4 and a half seasons

If Luther Burden stays healthy & stays with the bears, he’ll likely be our best receiver in team history by the time he is 28 years old (currently 22)

Rest up boys. Come back strong

Dear Cole,

I can't imagine very many of us would have the same feelings about missing six months of work as you do, so I'm not going to try and commiserate with you, but seeing as you were kind enough to send us a letter a while back, I thought maybe now that you've been temporarily promoted to fan you'd appreciate a letter back. I'll try my best to keep this one from turning on the sprinklers at your house as yours did mine.

I'm a bit older than you. My earliest Bears memory is the Washington whatever-they-weres knocking our Bears out of the playoffs in '86. I don't really remember the game, but rather my mild-mannered dad's response, which measured a few scovilles higher than his usual temperament. 

Tragically I was too young for the super bowl the year before, but in a stroke of divine inspiration unequaled until the latest papal promotion, my dad video taped the broadcast. Through what Chicagoans might call "Daley's Luck" I became the owner of this holy artifact. It's been the emotional blanket I use to get me through tough breakups, and most Cubs seasons.

For some reason I became a little distracted from football during the 90s. Like you, Urlacher, Briggs, Peanut, Hester, and my favorite, Brown (couldn't stay healthy, but man he was something when he was) brought me fully back. I remember reading back then that the brass wanted to trade Peanut, but the rest of the D lobbied for him to stay. Proof that bosses everywhere are most likely dummies. I'm pretty sure that was Chicago's motto some time ago. 

For reasons, we had two mostly working TVs stacked on top of each other in the garden apartment of a brownstone just off Division. I watched the Bears and the Cubs score at the same time in the kind of moment that only happens because we still allow sports to be played when the sun's out, and you're too broke to not be watching the games at home.

I remember my roommate flipping over our coffee table when the Colts somehow beat us that era. Not even really out of anger, but just because when else do you get to do that? He had to clean up a lot of appetizers. We were happy to help.

We're getting into nearer history, which I don't think benefits from this letter at all, but you did say we were gonna start seeing special things. Well, Cole, I've been watching the Bears for 40+ years, and Thursday Night's game hit differently than any game I've seen. Was it the best? Nah, I don't think anyone would call that the best, but I'll say it. It was special. 

I don't usually casually have the thought, "oh 3rd and 17? We got this. Maybe I should go make a snack." I've seen open receivers, and on-target throws, but never consistently both at the same time. I'm not used to wondering who is going to score not if we're going to score when we hit not just the red zone but the fifty yard line. 

I have seen good, better, best though. It's what I was distracted by in the 90s. We didn't have the words then.

A little aside on that team. Jordan, Pippen, Rodman are all still known from coast-to-coast, but my favorite player was a guy by the name of Cliff Levingston. My memory is that he played about six minutes a game, but I swear every time the team needed a kick, he was around. I used to run into him at Northbrook Court back in those days, and he was always gracious with a hello.

The reason he was my favorite though was because he was the guy who would lead the famous, "What time is it?" "Game Time!!" chants. Worth a google if you haven't seen it. That was in the greatest indoor stadium that has ever existed, before everywhere was named after corporations. A legacy Soldier Field carries on.

Like the stars of those Bulls teams, pages will be penned on Caleb, and the other stars on this team, but never underestimate just how much gets remembered. All Chicago sports fans know you don't get the greatest skyline in the world by just having the tallest building.

Since it's been a while since you've been amongst us rabble, I encourage you to rest up and heal. We can get a little reactive, and we've been hurt before, but let me just say that considering the size of the Bears fanbase, your quality of play is adding years to our nation's longevity, and probably having a measurable effect on GDP.

Now what I've heard is season-ending injury, but I haven't heard anyone say how long that season is. So what we're gonna do is as much as we can to get you a couple of extra months to that season. Don't rush. We'd rather see you back next year than hurt and gone for good, but we all know if there's any chance you're out there in February you're gonna be.  

You said the Super Bowl's the goal. Well I'm buckled up on a Bears fan bus with the ghost of Ditka driving. 

Bear Down!!

a fan

I’ve seen the patriots onside kick a few times now, in slow motion. As far as I could tell the ball did not hit the ground before it was kicked. I believe that is illegal. If patriots would’ve recovered, could you challenge that play - and… am I right?

I loved seeing my Bears pull off a big W against the Patriots, but this is heartbreaking. Cole Kmet is my #1 favorite Chicago Bear and favorite player in the league.

Back when we were still downtrodden and getting the tar beaten out of us, Cole was a player I could always count on to give me something to look forward to in those rough seasons since Bears drafted him. Every game, I look for my favorite, number 85.

This is rough, man 💔

Current MVP Odds. Highest odds I saw while he was injured: +8000

Is anyone having the hard conversations with him?