Bears TE Cole Kmet 'not freaking out' about reduced role in season opener

Bears tight end Cole Kmet played fewer than half the offensive snaps and got only one target in the season-opening victory Sunday against the Titans, and that’s something offensive coordinator Shane Waldron must correct. The offense managed only three field goals and 148 total yards in that game.

Kmet has played 70% or more of the offensive snaps in 54 of 68 games with the Bears and averaged 5.3 targets last season while rolling up career highs with 73 catches and 719 yards. He was frustrated by his lack of use but didn’t overreact to the first of 17 games.

‘‘I’ve now gone through my fair share of different offenses,’’ said Kmet, who is on his third coordinator in five seasons. ‘‘It’s important to remain patient. I’m not freaking out. I don’t think anybody in here is freaking out. There’s a lot of newness here offensively.’’

Waldron is more familiar with second tight end Gerald Everett, who played 61% of the snaps to Kmet’s 48%. Everett played under Waldron in 2017-21 but has produced 500 or more receiving yards only once in eight seasons. Kmet topped that number in each of the last three.

Kmet said he wasn’t thrilled about his playing time Sunday but had no interest in causing a disruption or questioning Waldron.

‘‘I don’t need an explanation,’’ Kmet said. ‘‘The showing wasn’t what we wanted offensively, and we’ll have to adjust. I’ll just continue going out there and putting good stuff on tape.

‘‘This is the best I’ve felt coming into a season, best shape I’ve been in, and there’s [metrics] to show that. Most explosive I’ve felt. I feel really good with my physicality in the run game. I’ve just got to keep doing that stuff.’’