Bears TE Cole Kmet on track to play Thursday

Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

Cole Kmet catches a touchdown in the first half Sunday.Coming off one of the best games of his career, Bears tight end Cole Kmet is expected to play Thursday night against the Panthers.

Kmet was listed as a non-participant because of a knee injury in Monday’s practice estimate, as the Bears were merely holding a walk-through. They had a walk-through Tuesday but upgraded Kmet to a full participant.

Kmet had six catches for 55 yards in Sunday’s loss to the Saints. He caught two touchdown passes — one of them an acrobatic diving catch in the first quarter.

Running back Khalil Herbert was listed as a full participant, too, and could be added to the active roster…