Things are not going well for the Chicago Bears.
Roquan Smith, one of their best defensive players, demanded a trade from the front office.
Losing him will create a huge void in that unit and they have no one to replace him.
Aside from that unfortunate development, NFL Network insider Mike Garafolo shared an update about wide receiver N’Keal Harry.
#Bears WR N’Keal Harry is undergoing tightrope surgery this morning after suffering a high-ankle sprain recently, a source says. Harry is expected to be sidelined around eight weeks.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) August 11, 2022
Garafolo tweeted, “#Bears WR N’Keal Harry is undergoing tightrope surgery this morning after suffering a high-ankle sprain recently, a source says. Harry is expected to be sidelined for around eight weeks.”
Based on that timeline, Harry might miss the first quarter of the Bears’ regular season.
That’s a huge blow for a team that is trying to make a playoff return.
Personally, an injury is also the last thing that Harry wants, especially now that he would like to prove to the Bears that trading for him was worth it.
Despite being a first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the former Arizona State standout is yet to prove that he belongs in the NFL.
Last season, he only had 184 yards for the New England Patriots despite playing 12 games.
That number is a far cry from his 1,088 yards in his final year with the Sun Devils.
Next Man Up For The Bears
With Harry sidelined by injury, quarterback Justin Fields will have to rely on Darnell Mooney, Velus Jones Jr., and Byron Pringle in the passing game.
David Montgomery is also a versatile option in the pass or the run game.
As Harry waits to resurrect his NFL career, the Bears will continue to compete and hopefully shock their opponents.
They may not be regarded as one of the top teams in the NFC, but they can change that perception once the season starts.