Overview
- Coach Ben Johnson confirmed Tuesday that Bryant had knee surgery on Friday and now faces a four- to six-month recovery that will sideline him for most or all of the 2026 regular season.
- Bryant was injured during a one-on-one drill with tight end Cole Kmet on Aug. 3 when he suffered a hyperextended knee, a bone bruise and a small fracture after initial reports predicted an eight- to ten-week non-surgical recovery.
- Chicago has already signed veteran safeties Xavier Woods and Cam Lewis and is elevating rookie first-round pick Dillon Thieneman to fill Bryant’s planned role alongside other internal options.
- Bryant’s three-year, $40 million free-agent deal gives him significant guaranteed money and his missed snaps could alter compensatory-pick projections for his former team in Seattle if he misses the season.
- The Bears will likely continue adding experienced help or exploring trades to stabilize the secondary while monitoring Bryant’s rehab for a possible playoff return and managing short-term defensive game plans without him.