Jaquan Brisker has not played in a game since Week 5 of the 2024 season. The Chicago Bears beat the Carolina Panthers 36-10 in that contest, but lost Brisker for the rest of the season to a concussion. He has been a full participant in the Bears’ first two days of mandatory minicamp, which concludes on Thursday.
That is more than many of his teammates can boast.
Jaquan Brisker ‘Feels Great’ Being Back on Field With Bears
Bears Missed Jaquan Brisker
For Brisker, it is just good to be back on the field with his Bears teammates and work with the new coaching staff, which he raved about.
“It feels great. It feels great to be back here. Hope you guys miss me, but, yeah, it feels great to be back in action, and, obviously, be back talking to the media,” Brisker told Clocker Sports after Wednesday’s practice. “It’s hard [being out]. I love football. Been playing since I was four. It’s hard being away from ball. So, just had to keep my mind right and just lock in.”
Brisker tackled Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble during that game, and he even finished out the victory, self-reporting symptoms the following day before the team’s flight out to London to face the Jacksonville Jaguars.
It will have been 308 days between Brisker’s last game and his next opportunity, which is the Bears’ preseason opener at home against the Miami Dolphins on August 10.
He leaned on family and teammates to help him through the trying times away from the game.
“It was kind of getting sad, and depressed, and things like that,” Brisker told reporters in response to a follow-up question about his lengthy rehab process, which included retraining his nervous system. “Got over it. It’s time to move on, and I’m back now.”
On the field, the Bears missed Brisker’s physicality and vocal leadership. When the secondary makes a play, Brisker is often the first to celebrate.
He said he is back to playing full speed and that he has no reservations about further injury.
Bears Still Missing Key Pieces
No position group has been missing its key parts more than the Bears’ secondary. Cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon have missed multiple practice sessions, as have top backups in corner Terell Smith and safety Elijah Hicks.
Brisker’s presence is key in that regard, allowing the Bears to keep some semblance of who they hope will be on the field in training camp and, more importantly, the regular season.
Bears head coach Ben Johnson said Hicks and Jaylon Johnson were excused on Wednesday.
He previously told reporters that Gordon was dealing with a soft-tissue injury. Smith’s status is less clear. The Bears are also missing veteran left tackle Braxton Jones and rookie draft picks Colston Loveland, Luther Burden III, and Zah Frazier.
Brisker’s presence is good for the Bears in many ways. The trick will be keeping him on the field. He had missed two games in each of his first two seasons before missing 12 in 2024.