Following Saturdayโs performance by the starting unit, Bears fans everywhere should be exhaling a huge sigh of relief this week.
Cutler-to-Marshall was finally on display, the line actually protected Jay (gasp!), and Israel Idonije led the first team defense in their solid effort to contain RG3.
Instead, fans and the Bears front office are forced to keep an eye on an ever-growing injuries list.
It was bad enough that weโve had a new development in the saga involving Brian Urlacherโs knee almost every day and Stephen Paeaโs ankle isnโt fully healed. Now we can add the names Corey Wootton, Adam Podlesh, Blake Costanzo, and pretty much the entire safety rotation to the names of injured players.
Letโs start with the โserious but not so seriousโ injuries. Adam Podlesh pulled up lame while trying to chase down Brandon Banks on a punt return. Keep in mind Banks can run a 4.4 forty.
But according to Podlesh his left hip flexor injury may have looked worse than it actually is. After the game he said heโd be more concerned if it was his right hip because that would affect his kicking motion.
He had an MRI Sunday morning but still expects to be ready by Week 1.
Starting safety Chris Conte left the field in the first half of Saturdayโs game with an apparent shoulder injury. He left the stadium with his right arm in a sling but Coach Lovie Smith expects Conte to be back by the Week 3 preseason matchup with the Giants.
Both linebacker Blake Constanzo and defensive end Corey Wootton dealt with lower body injuries during the game but nothing appears to be serious on either front. Costanzo actually tried to walk off his leg cramps and was laughing with trainers on the way off the field.
The only concern here would be with Wootton. This is his third year as a Bear and by all accounts heโs having a good training camp where heโs finally living up to some of the hype heโs carried with him. But now we can add this groin injury to the laundry list of others heโs dealt with since his years at Northwestern.
The only major concern from Saturday would be the neck injury to rookie safety Brandon Hardin. The fact that he had to be taken off on a stretcher is one thing. But on Monday the Bears agreed to terms with former Seahawk safety prospect Mark LeGree, meaning it might be a while until we see Hardin on the field again.
Hardinโs dealt with injuries since his days atOregonState. He suffered a shoulder injury that caused him to miss his entire senior year and heavily downgrade his draft stock.
Hardin was able to leave the hospital on Monday morning and reportedly never lost consciousness or feeling in any of his limbs. But the Bears will take a very cautious approach with his return and will not make any further decisions on his roster status until they review the MRI they scheduled for him in early September.
On Monday, Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com reported that a source close to Hardin said he feels well enough to play next week. On the other end of the spectrum, there has been talk that the Bears may put Hardin on IR depending on the MRI results.
Either way, a neck injury is never a one-time quick fix injury. Peyton Manning can let you know all about that.
Former Bear Hunter Hillenmeyer summed it up best with by tweeting, โ โWith all the injuries at safety…โ I could be reading a comment from any and every year in the last decade for [the] Bears.โ
But itโs not just the safeties whoโve been decimated by injuries seemingly every year. From Jim Millerโs injury in the 2002 playoffs to the injuries to Cutler and Forte that ruined last season, the Bears have always been subject to untimely losses of key players.
And when you think about it, injuries that derail a season have become a โChicagothingโ as of late. Just ask Jonathan Toews or Derrick Rose.
So hereโs to good fortune and good health for the Bears this season. But if Week 2 was any indication for the season, we may be in for some dรฉjร vu.
