Bears’ Jaquan Brisker Shares Strong Message on Future Amid Concussion Woes

Jaquan Brisker, Chicago Bears

Chicago Bears safety Jaquan Brisker will miss his fifth straight game with a concussion in Week 11 versus the Green Bay Packers. Bears head coach Matt Eberflus ruled the third-year safety out for the tilt against ahead of Wednesday’s practice,

While Eberflus did not provide any new information surrounding the safety’s status, the head coach said last week that he (Brisker) was still experiencing concussion-related symptoms.

With his status a significant storyline, Brisker shared a strong message from a fan about his staying out.

Bears’ Jaquan Brisker Shares Message on Future Amid Concussion

Jaquan Brisker a Big Absence for Bears

“I find it so annoying how people r acting like it’s crazy for a star nfl player to prioritize his brain / future health rather than simply lying/denying symptoms in order to return to play asap,” the fan posted on X in reaction to comments under the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs’ report on November 13. “@JaquanBrisker is setting a good example by letting his brain fully heal before RTP.”

Brisker has been present and upbeat in the locker room, though he has not been on the practice field. That this is his third straight NFL season with a concussion is also a concern. That it is also his longest absence from the injury also speaks volumes.

Brisker, who missed two games in 2022 and two more in 2023, suffered this concussion on a hit he delivered to Carolina Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble in Week 5.

He self-reported having symptoms the following day and has not played or even practiced since.

“We just let him know that he’s our guy no matter what. He’s our brother and we’ll support him through whatever he’s going through, and we gotta hold it down,” Brisker’s replacement and draftmate Elijah Hicks told Clocker Sports on Wednesday. “We just know the type of player he is. He’s the heart, he’s the safety. He’s always got the energy and stuff. So we just – he’s one of the guys.”

Cole Kmet Gets Honest About Potential Ominous Deja Vu Amid Bears Turmoil

Thomas Brown is the fourth offensive coordinator Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet has had in his five-year career. Drafted with the No. 43 overall pick of the  2020 NFL Draft, Kmet began his career with Bill Lazor manning the role and Matt Nagy – a former and current OC himself – as head coach. By  2022, Nagy and Lazor were gone and it was in with Luke Getsy.

Getsy lasted two seasons before Bears head coach Matt Eberflus fired him.

Getsy’s replacement, Shane Waldron has now been fired and replaced by Brown. So how does Kmet avoid feeling an ominous sense of dej vu?

“I think it’s just having the mentality of taking it week-to-week,” Kmet told Clocker Sports during his media availability on Wednesday. “You just take it one week at a time, and I know that’s kind of mundane and kind of coach speak if you will. But um that’s what you have to do. You have to be able to move on from the previous games and just focus on the week ahead.

To that end, the Lake Barrington, Illinois native is eager to get back on the field with the newish-look offense.

That is even with a daunting challenge in the Green Bay Packers ahead of them.

“I’m really excited about this week. This is a game that means a lot to me, and it means a lot to a lot of people in this building. And what a great opportunity here to get back on track with our first division game here, especially against the Packers at home.”

The Bears have lost 10 straight matchups against the Packers. Their last victory came in Week 15 of the 2018 season, Nagy’s first at the helm.

Former Packers DB Jonathan Owens Gets Honest About Bears

Jonathan Owens switched sides. A former undrafted free agent who broke into the league with the Houston Texans, Owens spent the 2023 season with the Packers.

Despite his current team’s turmoil, Owens does not compare it to previous situations in Chicago.

“Just [viewing the situation through] new eyes, man,” Owens told Clocker Sports before practice. “Try to just go in fresh, relay the information I know and things that I’ve seen on film. So like I said, we just go into it with the same process, man, regardless of who’s out there.”

That back-to-work mentality has served the Bears well this season. And it looks like they have leaned into it even more in the face of their greatest adversity yet.

To Kmet’s point, this week could prove big, indeed, given how important it is at Halas Hall.