One of the biggest questions facing the Chicago Bears roster this offseason was the health of safety Jaquan Brisker.
After suffering a concussion against the Carolina Panthers during Week 5 of the Bears' 2024 season, Brisker would remain sidelined for the remainder of the year. For Brisker, the concussion he suffered last season was his third in as many years with the Bears. Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Brisker's history with concussions is one of the biggest reasons why there likely won't be any talk of an extension this summer.
Throughout the offseason, the Bears have provided vague updates on Brisker's status, but on Wednesday, there was a definitive answer. Jaquan Brisker was practicing with the Bears during their OTA practice on Wednesday.
Jaquan Brisker finally appears to be healthy
Brisker's inclusion in practice should all but confirm he is indeed cleared for football activities. After not really having a definitive update on Brisker since he suffered the concussion last season, seeing him on the field during Wednesday's practice was indeed an encouraging sign.
As it stands, the Bears will be rolling out the same starting safety combination that they had at the start of the 2024 season. The expectation is that Brisker and Kevin Byard will be the starting safety combination for the Bears when they play the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football in Week 1. Of note, both Brisker and Byard are free agents after the season. If Brisker can prove stay healthy, there likely would be interest from the Bears in bringing him back. Byard, meanwhile, likely will hit the market next offseason.
It will be interesting to see how Dennis Allen utilizes the safety position with the Bears' defense. When Kyler Gordon signed his contract extension earlier this offseason, Allen mentioned that Gordon could see some time at safety. Versatility appears to be a big factor in Allen's defense, and that will extend to the safety position.