Overview

• Terell Smith, a third‑year cornerback who had been having a strong training camp, left the preseason game vs. Buffalo after a non‑contact right‑knee injury and was ruled out for the contest.
• Head coach Ben Johnson called Smith’s injury “the most concerning” of the night and the team is awaiting medical imaging to determine whether ligament damage or surgery is required.
• If Smith needs significant knee surgery, the Bears could place him on injured reserve before the 53‑man roster cutdown, a move that would likely sideline him for the 2025 season unless he receives one of the limited return designations.
• The setback compounds existing cornerback availability problems — Jaylon Johnson has been limited in practice while Kyler Gordon remains week‑to‑week — accelerating evaluations of internal options such as Nahshon Wright, Tyrique Stevenson, Josh Blackwell and rookie Zah Frazier.
• Chicago is expected to consider short‑term veteran additions or waiver claims to shore up depth before roster cuts, and teammates and public figures posted immediate messages of support after Smith was carted off.