Chicago Bears safety Coby Bryant will reportedly miss 8-10 weeks with a knee injury
· Yahoo Sports
Chicago Bears safety Coby Bryant is expected to miss eight-to-10 weeks due to a hyperextended knee, a bone bruise and a small fracture, according to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Bryant will not need surgery on his injured knee.
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Bryant, 27, injured his knee during practice Monday at Bears training camp. He went down during one-on-one drills between the linebackers and the tight ends. Coach Ben Johnson spoke to the media prior to practice and was unavailable for comment after practice.
“It always sucks to see,” said tight end Colston Loveland, who was nearby when Bryant’s injury occurred. “That’s always part of (the game), but he’s tough, he’s a dog.”
Eight weeks would likely sideline Bryant through most of September, with the potential for that to stretch into October. Bryant was earmarked for a starting spot at the safety position after signing with the Bears in March on a three-year, $40 million free-agent contract.
With Bryant out, the Bears could turn to veteran addition Cam Lewis to play alongside first-round pick Dillon Thieneman at safety. Returning safety Elijah Hicks could be another option, although Hicks is currently sidelined with a shin injury.
Bryant joined the Bears fresh off a Super Bowl victory with the Seattle Seahawks in February. He entered training camp with high expectations, both on and off the field. He stepped into the starting role after All-Pro Kevin Byard’s exit in free agency.
“I love his play style,” defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said of Bryant last week. “I think it epitomizes the way that we want to play the game. He plays fast. He plays violent. He’s smart. He’s instinctive. He just does a lot of really good things.”
Bryant’s predecessor, Byard, was a vocal leader and a team captain last season. Last week, he spoke about how becoming a team captain is one of the goals he has set for himself.
“I write my goals out every year and put them on my mirror as a reminder,” Bryant said. “That’s something I always keep in camp and that’s something that’s on there for sure.”
He has already made an impact on his teammates in the few months since he arrived.
“He’s like that spark plug,” cornerback Tyrique Stevenson said of Bryant on Monday. “He comes in with that juice. You always see that from practice when he’s coming out of the middle of the field to make (pass breakups). He’s the spark plug and he’s bringing that energy every day, and he’s won it at the highest level.”
But the Bears could be without their spark plug for the next two months.