The Bears received some encouraging news earlier today about one of their top defenders. One of their other projected starters, however, has begun his NFL career with an injury which could threaten his regular season availability to start the season.
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Rookie safety Jaquan Brisker recently underwent surgery on his thumb, reports NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). He suffered the injury during the team’s first preseason contest against the Chiefs, and has been sidelined ever since. The recovery process will be closely monitored, given the degree to which the second-rounder has stood out in training camp and his projected role on the team.
“Sometimes you wake up with these hand injuries, and it just shows up,” head coach Matt Eberflus said, via The Athletic’s Adam Jahns (subscription required). “It feels like you just kind of tweaked it a little bit and all the sudden the next day there it is. So it was one of those deals.”
Brisker took a step forward in each of his three seasons at Penn State. In his junior year, he produced 63 tackles, including six for a loss, two interceptions and five pass breakups. Those numbers made him one of the top safeties in the draft, and gave him a path to significant playing time right away with the Bears.
ESPN’s Courtney Cronin tweets that head coach Matt Eberflus is “hopeful” Brisker will be recovered in time for the team’s regular season opener against the 49ers. Likewise, Rapoport adds that there is a “real chance” he is able to suit up for Week 1. Brisker is slated to operate as the team’s starting strong safety, so a return in time for September would be a boost to the rebuilding Bears. If he misses time, though, they would likely turn to free agent addition Dane Cruikshank to partner with Eddie Jackson on the backend.
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