BEARS SAFETY COBY BRYANT TO MISS 4-6 MONTHS AFTER KNEE SURGERY

Chicago Bears safety Coby Bryant underwent knee surgery late last week, Head Coach Ben Johnson said on Tuesday. Bryant is expected to miss four to six months, significantly longer than the initial injury assessment of two to three months. The extended recovery timeline means Bryant may not return until late in the regular season or potentially during playoff competition, should the Bears reach that stage.

Bryant joined the Bears recently after winning the Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks. The injury represents a setback for the defence after the club moved quickly to sign him. Xavier Woods was listed behind Bryant on the initial depth chart, with Dillon Thieneman listed as a starter alongside other reserve defensive backs including Josh Blackwell, Brandon Hill, Anthony Johnson and Marlen Sewell.

The four-to-six month timeframe reflects a more serious injury than the eight-to-ten week prognosis reported after Bryant's initial injury. If recovery progresses at the shorter end of the extended timeline, Bryant could potentially feature in late-season games, though the Bears cannot depend on his availability for their current planning.