Chicago Bears safety Coby Bryant has been out since August 7 due to a left knee injury. Head coach Ben Johnson initially said the plan is to have him back at some point this season. While he showed up to the team's recent win, which is a sign of encouragement, the Bears coach still did not have a strong timeline on when he could return.
Chicago Bears safety still a ways away from returning
Johnson noted that he is on track and progressing well, but that he is still far from contributing.
“He's on track,” said Johnson when asked the status of Coby Bryant. “I think in the near future here, we're going to start with some on-land running. But we're still a little ways away from him doing the change of direction stuff. And that's really going to be the stress test with him: being able to really push down on that knee and change direction at a high velocity. So, that's still a little ways away.”
When asked, Johnson thought he would be back closer to December or February; Johnson did not have a firm answer. That was the timeline he gave in training camp when the injury occurred.
“I think we're going to keep that vague at the moment,” Johnson added about the timeline to return.
“From what I understand, he's right on track. He's working his tail off. I love seeing him in the building. He's around these guys all the time. Really, over the next month, that'll go a long way to see whether we can get them back this year or not.”
So, while there is not an update yet, he is a few weeks away from giving the team an idea of when he will return. As teams eye upgrades at the trade deadline, this could be the biggest addition Chicago could have.
They have been shuffling at safety next to rookie Dillon Thieneman all season. Bryant signed a three-year, $40M deal in free agency with the team this offseason. The plan was for him to be a stable force next to the rookie all season.
Thieneman has still been strong in his NFL debut. So, if the team can get Bryant back into the lineup, they are going to be a much improved defensive unit.
Some of the breakdowns in the secondary will go away, and the chances of Thieneman getting better rather than hitting a wall go up. This status is worth watching.
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