During the Chicago Bears‘ win over the Carolina Panthers on October 5th, safety Jaquan Brisker violently collided with tight end Tommy Tremble. Both came out of the game with concussions. Brisker was expected to miss about a week or two, which is typical for such an injury. It has now been a month and a half, and the Bears safety still hasn’t returned. He’s not going to either. The team announced that he is going on Injured Reserve, meaning he is out for at least the next month. At this point, it wouldn’t be surprising if he is done for the year.
In the short term, this is a tough blow for the Bears’ defense. Brisker is a key part of their success thanks to his versatility as a run and pass defender. His instincts and physicality were always impossible to miss. From a long-term perspective, it is becoming clear the safety faces the very real prospect of an early retirement. This is his third concussion in as many seasons since entering the NFL. The fact he still hasn’t fully recovered suggests it is far more serious than common such injuries. Other players with similar issues have been forced to retire early. Luke Kuechly is one example.
The Bears have to think about life after Jaquan Brisker.
It sucks. Nobody in that building wants to admit it, but that is the truth. The former 2nd round pick has one year left on his rookie contract. There is no way GM Ryan Poles can justify signing him to an extension with this new development. It would be way too big of a risk. Jaquan Brisker may want to keep playing, which is his prerogative, but the Bears have to be the responsible party here. As he contemplates his future, they must start making preparations to find a replacement this coming off-season. They have plenty of resources to make it happen. Over $70 million in cap space. Four picks in the first three rounds. It is cold and calculated, but that is the business of pro sports.
