The Chicago Bears wrapped up a key piece of their roster work Tuesday by placing safety Coby Bryant on injured reserve after his knee injury lingered through the summer.
Bryant signed a three-year, $40 million contract this offseason after helping the Seattle Seahawks win the Super Bowl. Chicago hoped he would lock down a starting safety spot right away.
Instead, he hurt his left knee during an August practice. What first looked like a hyperextension and bone bruise later required surgery for a small fracture.
Doctors now project a four-to-six-month recovery. That window means Bryant might not play until December at the earliest, if he plays at all this year.
The Bears could have shut him down for the season during training camp. They chose to wait, gather more information, and keep their options open.
After trimming the roster to 53 players, they made the call official. The team posted the news in a straightforward announcement.
“We have made the following roster moves: Placed Coby Bryant & Hayden Large on IR. Signed James Lynch & Jack Sanborn. Signed fourteen players to the practice squad.”
Tight end Hayden Large joined Bryant on injured reserve. The Bears added defensive tackle James Lynch and linebacker Jack Sanborn to the active roster to fill those spots.
Fourteen other players landed on the practice squad as the team finished its preseason housekeeping.
Bryant’s absence leaves a hole in the secondary. The Bears already lost some familiar faces from last year’s defensive backfield in free agency.
Cam Lewis is expected to start next to Dillon Thieneman for now. Elijah Hicks, Xavier Woods and Skyler Thomas give the coaches extra bodies to mix and match.
Coach Ben Johnson has talked about Bryant as the kind of player who sets the tone on offense, defense and special teams. That kind of presence is hard to replace overnight.
The Bears are not rushing anything. They want Bryant healthy if and when he returns rather than forcing him back too soon.
A mid-December return would line up with the later part of the schedule. Chicago finishes the year against some familiar NFC North and playoff-caliber opponents.
For now, Bryant’s job is simple: rehab and get stronger. The team will check in on his progress as the weeks go by.
The $40 million investment has not paid off yet on the field. Injuries have defined his short time in Chicago so far.
Still, the Bears left the door cracked. If the recovery goes well and the team is still in the hunt, Bryant could make his debut later this season.
Until then, younger and cheaper players get the chance to prove they belong. That is how these roster decisions usually play out in September.
