Bears Safety Coby Bryant 'On Track' With Recovery as Timeline Remains Vague

The Chicago Bears have played seven games this season without their top free-agent acquisition, Coby Bryant. 

General manager Ryan Poles signed the veteran safety to a three-year, $40 million deal after the 27-year-old defensive back won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks in a 29-13 win.  

Bryant injured his knee on the first day of full pads in training camp during a 1-on-1 rep with veteran tight end Cole Kmet in early August. The veteran safety underwent knee surgery this summer and head coach Ben Johnson said that he would be out four to six months. 

The Bears' head coach was asked about Bryant on Wednesday at Halas Hall before the team's fully padded practice. 

"Yeah, he's on track," Johnson said. "I think in the near future here we're going to start with some on-land running, but we're still a little ways away from him doing the change of direction stuff. That's really going to be the stress test with him is being able to really push down on that knee and change direction at a high velocity. So that's still a little ways away."

Since Bryant has been out, the Bears have tried several different players at the safety position opposite of rookie Dillon Thieneman. Veteran defensive back Cam Lewis has been the primary placeholder at safety. Veteran Xavier Woods saw snaps alongside Thieneman this season, but he was released on Oct. 17, making Lewis the primary safety with the Bears' rookie. 

Johnson was asked about Bryant's four-to-six month timeline and whether he could narrow it down to a more specific date. 

"I think we're going to keep that vague at the moment," Johnson said. "From what I understand, he's right on track. He's working his tail off. Love seeing him in the building. He's around these guys all the time. And really, over the next month, that'll go a long way to see whether we can get him back this year or not." 

Since Bryant's surgery, I've seen Bryant around Halas Hall and in the postgame locker rooms. He was there after the Week 3 win over the Philadelphia Eagles, and I noticed him there after the Week 4 victory against the New York Jets. At that time, Bryant didn't have any crutches and he dabbed up his teammates before leaving the locker room at Soldier Field. 

It's no guarantee that Bryant returns this season, but if he can play for defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, then the secondary would gain one of the team's top playmakers as the Bears look to make a playoff push.