Bears safety Coby Bryant will miss the next 8-10 weeks due to a hyperextended knee, bone bruise and small fracture suffered in Monday's training camp practice, ESPN reports. He is not expected to need surgery.
Bryant, 27, had to be carted off after going down during a one-on-one drill, per Adam Hoge.
Chicago signed Bryant, formerly of the Seahawks, to a three-year, $40 million deal this offseason, hoping to fortify its secondary with 2025 starting safeties Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker, both free agents. Byard signed with the Patriots, Brisker with the Steelers.
A fourth-round pick out of Cincinnati in 2022, Bryant thrived when Mike Macdonald arrived in Seattle in 2024 and moved him from cornerback to safety. Over the past two seasons, Bryant recorded seven interceptions (and returned one for a touchdown), 139 tackles, 13 passes defended, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He started all 15 games he appeared in last season, as well as all three of the Seahawks' playoff games en route to their Super Bowl triumph.
Chicago drafted Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman 25th overall in April, and he is likely to start at one safety spot. Cam Lewis could be next up to take Bryant's starting spot early in the season.
The Bears open their 2026 season on Sept. 13 -- less than six weeks away -- against the Panthers.
Coby Bryant injury impact
This is a significant loss for the Bears in more ways than one.
First, Bryant, the player, is an ascending talent with a nose for the football, the speed and agility to cover, and the strength to really thump opposing pass catchers and runners. His versatility is a sign of where the game is going at the safety position. According to Pro Football Focus, Bryant played the vast majority of his snaps (908 to be exact) at free safety last year, including playoffs, but he also played 177 snaps as a box safety and 60 snaps as a slot cornerback.
The Bears finished 29th in yards allowed per play last year, but survived thanks in large part to a league-leading 33 turnovers forced. Coach Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen were certainly looking forward to having more down-to-down success and not having to rely so heavily on turnovers -- which can be finicky year over year -- and Bryant was a big part of that.
Second, the Bears are already thin in the secondary. Safety Elijah Hicks is on the PUP list with a shin injury, and standout nickel back Kyler Gordon is also on the PUP due to a calf injury that has had him sidelined all offseason. It's been a frustrating run for Gordon, who played in just five games, including the playoffs, last year due to calf and groin issues.
"Obviously, he's frustrated," general manager Ryan Poles said. "We're frustrated."
C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who played significant snaps for Chicago last year, joined the Bills this offseason. Behind Bryant, Thieneman, Hicks and Lewis on the depth chart are either undrafted rookies or journeymen who haven't played much. It makes sense that Chicago could pursue outside help.
Bears schedule, Weeks 1-6
Week 1: at Panthers
Week 2: vs. Vikings
Week 3: vs. Eagles (MNF) <-- exactly eight weeks away (early end of Bryant's injury return timeline)
Week 4: vs. Jets
Week 5: at Packers <-- nine weeks and six days away
Week 6: at Falcons
