Coby Bryant’s start with the Chicago Bears did not begin as he hoped, as a knee injury during practice led to him being carted off the field. Despite the setback, Bryant’s situation offers a positive outlook. Facing an unexpected pause, he was visibly upset upon sustaining the injury, just days after joining the Bears following a Super Bowl triumph with the Seattle Seahawks.
During a 1-on-1 drill against tight end Cole Kmet, Bryant went down and immediately clutched his leg. Fortunately, the initial fears were alleviated; Bryant’s injury isn’t season-ending. Reports from ESPN indicate he will miss eight to ten weeks due to a hyperextended knee, bone bruise, and small fracture.
“It always sucks to see,” second-year tight end Colston Loveland commented on the situation, highlighting the challenges of the sport, while showing confidence in Bryant’s resilience.
Signing a three-year, $40 million deal with the Bears this offseason, Bryant was expected to be a defensive mainstay after his impressive rookie season with the Seahawks. He recorded seven interceptions and contributed significantly to his team’s Super Bowl win.
With Week 1 five weeks away, Bryant’s absence might not extend far into the regular season. However, his time away will test the Bears’ lineup. The team drafted Oregon standout safety Dillon Thieneman for a starting role next to Bryant. With Kyler Gordon previously injured, slot cornerback Cam Lewis might shift to safety. Lewis, another free agent addition, joins after six seasons with the Buffalo Bills amid several departures, including Kevin Byard, Jaquan Brisker, Nahshon Wright, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and Jonathan Owens.
As the NFL season approaches, teams prioritize maintaining health, yet understand depth determines their journey to February. Early challenges confront the Bears, though they anticipate Bryant’s return during the 2026 NFL season.
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