One of the good things about mandatory mini-camp is that every player is in attendance. That makes it easy to get an update on every player. For the Chicago Bears, they had a few key players miss time late last season with injuries. Both Jack Sanborn and Darnell Mooney had ankle injuries, and it was Lisfranc for Eddie Jackson. So, the three-foot injury players were all at Halas Hall for the start of camp, so we were able to get updates.
Chicago Bears provide good injury news on three key starters
Putting a bow on a couple injury items from today
— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) June 14, 2023
-Bears "absolutely" expect Darnell Mooney to be return for training camp
-Goal is for Jack Sanborn to be at "full speed" going into summer, per Eberflus. Eddie Jackson mentioned how himself, Mooney and Sanborn haven't had a summer
From the sound of things, the Chicago Bears anticipate all three to be ready for training camp. The depth chart is pretty thin at safety, so this is clear that the team is not too worried about Jackson. He has talked about how he is working overtime just to get ready for the start of training camp, so the start of the season does not sound like a question for him.
The Chicago Bears have been optimistic about Darnell Mooney, but perhaps a bit more quiet. Beyond that, the team is seeing Tyler Scott step into that role in the meantime, so the pressure feels a bit higher.
Lastly, there is Jack Sanborn. Sanborn had the least threatening of the injuries and should have had the shortest recovery time. Still, he is the UDFA who has the shortest track record. He also saw the team sign two big-name linebackers, and draft Noah Sewell on day three.
The Chicago Bears were adamant that while Sanborn is not practicing now, he will be back by training camp, and when he comes back, he is the starter. Still, that is the starting SAM, which means limited playing time in the Bears' defense. It also means that while he will be competing for the role, Noah Sewell will still be challenging him from the start of training camp.
No one can lose a job this early in the season, but Sewell getting work with the top team this early at least gives him some help to compete when the summer camp starts up. Overall, the Chicago Bears should feel good about where all three are as they have more than a month until real football starts back up.