The Chicago Bears wide receiver position took several hits on the injury front over the past week. One of the toughest to watch was N’Keal Harry. The team traded for him before training camp in hopes the former 1st round pick might overcome his failures in New England. Early signs were promising. Then he hit the turf during practice and had to be helped off the field. It was later revealed he’d suffered a high ankle sprain.
Severity wasn’t known at the time. Now we have a better idea, courtesy of updates from Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Harry will undergo tightrope surgery to repair the damage to his ankle. If things go as planned, he can return in two months. Depending on how the Bears handle things, the wide receiver should be back healthy by the start of November. Whether they keep him around that long is unclear.
#Bears WR N’Keal Harry is undergoing tightrope surgery this morning after suffering a high-ankle sprain recently, a source says. Harry is expected to be sidelined around eight weeks.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) August 11, 2022
N’Keal Harry consulted with expert Dr. Robert Anderson, who will perform the procedure. Depending on how the #Bears handle his designation, could be back for November. https://t.co/FYF4l6V8KI
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 11, 2022
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Tightrope shortens the rehab and return to play timeline. Maybe 4-6 weeks. The tightrope allows the syndesmosis to be stabilized so it is more flexible. Keeps natural motion between the tibia and fibula.
(1/2)#DaBears https://t.co/5mRhzPtDlA
— Mason West (@WestSportsPT) August 11, 2022
Since the fixation is flexible, there is no need for a second surgerybto remove hardware. Tua had it at Alabama, played 28 days later.
(2/2)
— Mason West (@WestSportsPT) August 11, 2022
N’Keal Harry is a conundrum for the Bears.
They traded for him, which would suggest they have high hopes for what he can offer their offense. At the same time, it was only a future 7th round pick. That would be a minuscule loss in the grand scheme if they chose to move on. Much of this may hinge on how fast he can recover from surgery. If things go well, he might return earlier than projected. That is why he is getting tightrope surgery. It offers him a shorter recovery time.
The Bears will likely waive him in the coming days. Presuming he passes through unclaimed, he will then revert to Injured Reserve. Then it becomes a matter of waiting things out. N’Keal Harry still has a chance to become a solid contributor to the Bears’ offense. It’s not like the wide receiver group is stacked with talent. Unless something unexpected happens, he should rejoin the action by late October.
