Overview
- Bears safety Coby Bryant was carted off practice after a one‑on‑one rep and has been diagnosed with a hyperextended left knee, a bone bruise and a small fracture that will sideline him about 8–10 weeks, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
- The injury occurred during a drill on Monday, Aug. 3, when Bryant landed awkwardly against tight end Cole Kmet and was visibly emotional as he left the field.
- No surgery is expected, but the 8–10 week timeline makes Bryant likely to miss the start of the regular season with the earliest realistic return in late September or early October depending on roster moves.
- The Bears immediately shifted snaps to veteran Cam Lewis and other in‑house options alongside rookie Dillon Thieneman, while the team weighs whether to use injured reserve or add a short‑term veteran to cover safety snaps.
- Bryant was Chicago’s biggest offseason defensive signing at three years and $40 million and his absence compounds other secondary issues, including Kyler Gordon and Elijah Hicks being sidelined, which could change the Bears’ early defensive plans.