Bears consider increased use of jumbo formations after Cole Kmet's season-ending injury

Chicago tight end Cole Kmet suffered a season-ending knee injury on Thursday night, prompting the Bears to explore adjustments to their offensive scheme. Head coach Ben Johnson said the team could increase the use of the "jumbo" formation, which features six offensive linemen, to maintain its running game and pass protection.

Johnson noted that backup offensive lineman Ozzy Trapilo, who has seen limited action after a ruptured patellar tendon in the previous season's playoffs, might receive more snaps in these larger sets. > "One solution could be, if Ozzy continues to trend up, then maybe we could do more jumbo, too," Johnson said. > "It’s not something we had to lean into, but there are a lot of solutions out there to make sure we can still run the ball, pass protect."

The coach expressed confidence that the offense can continue to operate effectively despite Kmet's absence.