Chicago Bears cornerback Terell Smith exited Sunday night’s preseason game against the Buffalo Bills due to injury and didn’t return for the remainder of the game.
Smith suffered what appeared to be a non-contact injury to his left knee during the final minutes of the first half, and he was carted off the field. He finished the game with two tackles.
Advertisement
Smith had an impressive start to training camp, where he was battling for the second outside cornerback job opposite Jaylon Johnson with Tyrique Stevenson and Nahshon Wright. It’s another devastating blow to their cornerback room as Pro Bowler Jaylon Johnson (leg) and Kyler Gordon (hamstring) are sidelined but expected to be ready for the regular season.
Terell Smith injury update
Following Sunday night’s game, Bears head coach Ben Johnson said Terell Smith’s knee injury “didn’t look good” and offered “thoughts and prayers.” It wasn’t exactly an encouraging sign. On Wednesday, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reported that Smith suffered a torn patellar tendon and is done for the 2025 season.
How Bears players reacted to Terell Smith’s injury
Terell Smith was surrounded by his Bears teammates following his brutal knee injury during Sunday night’s preseason game against the Bills. They surrounded him while he was loaded onto the cart and driven off the field. That included quarterback Caleb Williams and wide receiver DJ Moore, who were noticeably distraught during FOX’s national broadcast.
Advertisement
What Bears cornerback depth looks like
The Bears have been quite unlucky in the cornerback department this summer. Their deepest position group has dealt with some injuries to key players. Pro Bowler Jaylon Johnson suffered a leg injury before training camp kicked off, but he’s on track to return for Week 1. Meanwhile, Kyler Gordon is dealing with a hamstring injury that has him week-to-week. With Johnson, Gordon and now Smith out, Chicago’s top cornerbacks are Nahshon Wright and Tyrique Stevenson. Josh Blackwell, rookie Zah Frazier and Tre Flowers are all solid depth options. The good news is Johnson and Gordon’s injuries don’t appear to be serious, so they should be back in action, and the Bears still have solid depth. But it’s still a devastating blow for Smith.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Terell Smith injury update: Latest from Bears coach Ben Johnson