Chicago Bears safety Coby Bryant went from camp standout to a frightening sight in a matter of moments Monday morning.
For the first week or so of training camp, Bryant had been one of the biggest bright spots on the field. His movement, burst and playmaking were on display, the kind of showing that made it easy to see why Chicago brought him in this offseason.
That momentum stopped cold when Bryant went down in practice holding his left knee. He was reportedly very emotional before being carted off the field.
There is at least a small note of comfort in how it happened: Bryant got onto the cart under his own power, and the cart itself is not especially unusual since practice was taking place on the far fields. Still, the scene was hard to miss, and harder to shake for Bears fans watching a prized free agent signing leave the field after such a strong camp.
Now the team waits.
The injury also throws an immediate spotlight on the rest of Chicago’s defense, especially if Bryant is forced to miss significant time. Rookie first-round pick Dillon Thienieman could be asked to handle a much larger role right away, which would put a lot on the shoulders of a player whose traits and draft status already carry major expectations.
If Bryant is sidelined, the Bears secondary would likely need Cam Lewis or Elijah Hicks to fill the gap. Hicks has the edge in Chicago thanks to his time in the system, while Lewis brings plenty of experience from Buffalo.
What cannot be replaced is Bryant’s speed, slipperiness and knack for making plays on the ball. If he’s out for any length of time, that’s a real loss.
It also only sharpens the bigger question of whether the Bears did enough to bolster the pass rush, though that is its own issue entirely.
For now, Bears fans are left hoping for better news.
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