Bears Safety Coby Bryant to Miss 4-6 Months After Knee Surgery

Chicago Bears safety Coby Bryant will miss four to six months after undergoing knee surgery, head coach Ben Johnson announced Tuesday, a significant setback that will likely sideline the key free-agent acquisition for most of the 2026 season. The updated timeline replaces an earlier estimate of eight to 10 weeks and means Bryant is not expected to help the team until a potential playoff run.

Johnson confirmed the surgery was performed late last week following the injury sustained during practice earlier this month at Halas Hall in Lake Forest, Illinois. "Got to see him today. He had surgery on Friday and looks like he's going to be more of a four- to six-month timeline," Johnson told reporters. He added that the team hopes Bryant can return to help at the end of the year.

The injury occurred during one-on-one drills and was initially described as a hyperextended knee, bone bruise, and small fracture. Reports at the time indicated surgery was not expected and that Bryant would miss eight to 10 weeks. However, the surgical intervention extended his recovery period dramatically, placing his return somewhere around mid-December at the earliest.

Bryant, a Super Bowl champion with the...