Is the 2026 Bears Secondary Depth Already a Concern?
Even though players have just recently returned to practice, the Chicago Bears have already found themselves in a concerning position. Injuries have already taken a toll, as multiple key starters and depth players are currently missing time. Chicago invested a lot of resources into the secondary this past offseason, and it had the chance to be the strength of the team. All of the additions made it seem like a strong unit, but the depth is already being tested. The Bears now find themselves in scramble mode to patch the holes.
The major storyline so far has been the injury to Coby Bryant. The former Seahawks safety joined Chicago earlier this offseason as one of the biggest additions. His athleticism and elite talent were highly anticipated, as defensive coordinator Dennis Allen was set to use him all around the defense. However, the Ohio native suffered a hyperextended knee and a bone bruise that will keep him out for 8-10 weeks. Luckily, he will be able to return at some point this year. Despite that, his presence will be missed for the first few weeks of the season, and it will be challenging to find someone to replace him.
One of the other big injuries that the Bears are dealing with is Kyler Gordon. The veteran cornerback is one of the players who had the most to prove this season, as he only played in three games last year. In his career, Gordon has been limited by injuries nearly every year. Now he has suffered a calf injury before the Bears even returned to practice. The nickel cornerback is still not practicing with the team, and the front office is getting frustrated with his inability to stay healthy. Originally, his presence was a little bit protected by most of the other starters being available, but now with Bryant hurt, Chicago has two clear holes in the starting lineup.
Unfortunately, the depth has already taken a blow as well. Safety Elijah Hicks, who was the main backup to Bryant, has a shin injury. It is not believed to be too serious, but it still leaves Chicago down to the fourth-best option at safety. Cornerback is the same story, as Terell Smith left practice injured on August 3rd. The Bears have not released anything at this point, so it is difficult to know how serious it is. Smith, who missed all of last season with an injury, was set to challenge for the final starting spot at cornerback. Now, Chicago must turn to the other options on the roster. Even though neither of these players had a guaranteed spot, they are still important depth pieces that the team must find a way to work around for the time being.
The regular season does not start for another month, so the Bears have plenty of time to heal up. If you can start the season only down Bryant, then, as big a blow as that is, you would have to consider it a win. Being down only one key secondary piece is likely the best-case scenario. Regardless, all four players are missing important time to adjust to the system and to get warmed up before the season. Chicago has all eyes set on building on their success, but if the defense continues to be banged up, then that will be extremely difficult. The talent is there, but getting healthy before the regular season will be just as important as anything else over the next few weeks.
