When Bears safety Coby Bryant got hurt last week, the team believed he’d still be back by October. Upon further medical examination, it’s now possible he’ll miss the season.
Byrant initially was diagnosed with a hyperextension, bone bruise and small fracture in his left knee. He had surgery Friday, and coach Ben Johnson said Tuesday his timeline to return is 4-6 months.
The best-case scenario there would be him rejoining the team late in the regular season, while back end of that projection would be around the Super Bowl.
“He’s going to be in a hurry to get back to help us out there at the end of the year,” Johnson said.
Bryant, 27, was the Bears’ biggest offseason acquisition. He came from the defending champion Seahawks and got a three-year, $40 million contract at a time when the Bears were shedding money to get under the salary cap.
They expected him to be a pillar of their defense and mentor first-round pick Dillon Thieneman during his rookie season. The Bears likely will go with Cam Lewis, who has played cornerback and safety, in Bryant’s spot, though he’s been out recently with a minor injury.
