The Chicago Bears had a lot of turnover at the safety position this offseason. Last year’s starters, Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker, departed in free agency, and Chicago signed Coby Bryant in free agency and drafted rookie Dillon Thieneman out of Oregon in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Bryant, who spent the past four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks and was a key part of their Super Bowl run last season, was already making an impression on veteran Bears defenders, including cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, before suffering a knee injury that’s expected to sideline him 8-10 weeks.
“He’s like a spark plug,” Stevenson said. “He’s come in with this juice. Obviously from practice, when he’s coming out in the middle of the field to make PBUs, he’s just a spark plug. He’s bringing that energy every day and he’s done won it at the highest level, so he’s not letting nobody slip under the standard.”
Chicago already had some injuries in the secondary going into their first padded practice including cornerback Kyler Gordon and safety Elijah Hicks who are on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. The Bears added another injury to that list with Bryant’s injury.
Bryant has a hyperextended knee, bone bruise and small fracture that’s expected to postpone his Bears debut until at least Week 3. He was the one player Chicago really could not afford to lose, and now, they have a major gap in their secondary. While it is hard to see anyone get injured, it is even worse given how good of a training camp Bryant was having up to that point.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Tyrique Stevenson explains what Coby Bryant brings to Bears defense
Reporting by Ariana Pensy, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Ariana Pensy, Bears Wire | USA TODAY Network
