The Chicago Bears were already getting glimpses of why they signed Coby Bryant in free agency this past March. After a slow start to training camp, the safety ignited the defense with a big day, snagging an interception of Caleb Williams and making a nuisance of himself everywhere. His presence was impossible to avoid. It was a sign of how dangerous the defense could be with him guiding the action. Naturally, as has become the case way too often, the injury bug saw fit to ruin everything.
During the first padded practice of camp, Bryant landed awkwardly while covering tight end Cole Kmet during drills. This resulted in a hyperextended knee, a bone bruise, and a small fracture. While not season-ending, the injury will sideline the safety for the next 8-10 weeks, meaning he will likely miss at least the first two games of the regular season. It isn’t the result anybody wanted. Bryant expressed gratitude for the well-wishes he received from fans. However, it also quickly became apparent that he was already planning his revenge tour when he got back.
Coby Bryant is no stranger to being doubted.
Many thought he was a lost cause since he arrived in the NFL as a cornerback. He just didn’t have the speed to keep up with wide receivers. However, the Seattle Seahawks opted to shift him to safety, hoping that might mask the issue. They were correct. He transformed into a Pro Bowl-caliber player on one of the NFL’s best defenses. Teammates and coaches alike lauded his ability to mix athleticism with elite instincts. Having him patrolling the back end is such an advantage for any team.
The good news is the Bears don’t face a murderous lineup of quarterbacks to start the season. Their first month will be against Bryce Young, Kyler Murray, Jalen Hurts, and Geno Smith. If Coby Bryant is out for the full 10 weeks, he can at least be comforted that he’ll return for when the Bears really need him. The next slate of four games will include Jordan Love, Drake Maye, and Sam Darnold. Bryant should be healthy and ready for action by that point. There is no way he’s missing his first Packers game and the matchup against his former team.
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The Bears’ plan for Bryant’s absence seems clear.
One of their other free agent additions, Cam Lewis, has shifted into Bryant’s spot. Lewis has extensive experience playing safety from his time in Buffalo. While not as gifted, he has enough versatility to give Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen some flexibility. He’ll also serve as necessary help for rookie Dillon Thieneman. One should also keep an eye on Elijah Hicks. The longtime backup has always shown flashes in limited defensive snaps. Maybe the Bears get him involved, too.
If neither performs as hoped, expect the team to go hunting for some veteran help on the free agent market. Smart money says that won’t happen. The Bears know Bryant won’t be out that long. Signing a notable veteran to merely play a couple of games before hitting the bench makes little sense. That is, unless they can find a way to keep them involved. All things considered, the likely outcome is the team will ride with their backups for a couple of weeks and hope he returns on the earlier side of the projection.
