LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Caleb Williams was scrambling to avoid a sack and Cole Kmet worked his way open after a prolonged blocking assignment, caught a pass thrown well behind him and then rumbled for a 27-yard gain in a Week 6 win over Jacksonville. The Bears scored on that drive, which was the last offensive contribution on a day when Kmet had five catches on as many targets for 70 yards and two touchdowns.

One of league’s best tight ends has touched the ball twice since then. He had one 14-yard catch and a 2-point conversion on a shovel pass against Washington.

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That was the last time Kmet was targeted.

Kmet ran 40 routes against the Arizona Cardinals. Not a single pass was thrown his way in a game where the Bears struggled to generate offensive production.

Over the last two games, he’s averaging 0.23 yards per route run. His season average, even including the last two games, is 1.40. He has made every contested catch thrown his way and 42 percent of his receiving yards have come after the catch.

In sum, Kmet’s good at his job.

While each play is its own, the Bears have plenty of good receivers and defenses always account for someone of Kmet’s caliber, it’s still shocking that he hasn’t been targeted much during Chicago’s two-game losing streak.

As you’d expect from such a level-headed individual, Kmet isn’t getting mad about it. There are no demands to give him the damn ball.

“I obviously want to be involved in the offense and make plays where I can, but sometimes it’s just how the game flows here and there,” Kmet said. “I know that it’s not a conscious effort to not get me the football. Sometimes it’s just how things play out. It takes all 11 from that standpoint. It kind of is what it is.”

Kmet says being bothered by the situation doesn’t help. In fact, that makes it harder execute.

“I try not to get frustrated with that stuff because I know there’s a lot that goes into it. Just being ready for it,” Kmet said. “If it’s not getting a target for a while, it’s always important to keep your head in the game. The moment you get frustrated with things, the ball does come your way and bad things happen if you take your head out of it. So, it’s important to stay locked in.”

Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron confirmed the obvious in his Thursday press conference, that the Bears aren’t going away from Kmet and toward other options. It’s just the way recent games have played out. It’s clear that Kmet is a real asset as a receiver and a safety blanket for Williams in the middle of the field and when he deals with heavy pressure. Getting him (heavily) involved is good for the entire team.

“I think there’s a combination of that whether certain coverages might, on a play call where he might be No. 1 in the progression,” Waldron said, “coverage rolls a different way, or something had to move in the pocket or different things that have happened, but it just hasn’t worked out for him.

“I love Cole, I love his attitude, the way he comes to work every single day. It’s our job as coaches for all those guys to keep trying to work and to figure out ways to put them in the best position to find touches, to get more involved in the game as these weeks progress.”