The Bears hit their first significant issue in training camp Monday when starting safety Coby Bryant left practice with an apparent knee injury.
About midway through practice, Bryant landed uncomfortably while covering tight end Cole Kmet in a one-on-one drill. He slammed his helmet down in frustration, and teammates came over to check on him as he grabbed his left knee before he left on a cart.
Being carted off is not necessarily cause for concern given that the Bears were practicing on the fields farthest from Halas Hall. Any injured player would exit that way. The bigger concern was that it was a non-contact injury and he reacted so emphatically to it.
Bryant, 27, was the Bears’ top offseason acquisition, coming as a free agent from the defending champion Seahawks on a three-year, $40 million contract. The team has been counting on him to lead a defensive turnaround after it struggled last season.
Bryant has been a strong candidate to be a team captain as well, and the Bears could use a voice like his after letting Kevin Byard leave in free agency.
The Bears are especially thin at safety, where Bryant is the starter alongside first-round pick Dillon Thieneman.
Elijah Hicks would be in line behind them, but he’s been out of camp with what the Bears have categorized as a minor shin injury. The Bears also have an option in Cam Lewis, who can play safety or corner and stepped into Bryant’s spot for the rest of practice.