Chicago Bears brass is in Palm Beach, Florida, for the annual NFL owners meeting, including new head coach Ben Johnson. Among the many topics covered during his sitdown with the media, Johnson addressed the health of starting safety Jaquan Brisker.
Brisker, 25, suffered what turned out to be a season-ending concussion in Week 5 against the Carolina Panthers during the 2024 season. According to the player himself, that is all in the past.
Jaquan Brisker Sends Clear Message After Bears HC’s Comments
Bears S Jaquan Brisker Had to ‘Retrain’ Nervous System
“He’s BEEN activated. From the main source. I’m itching! I heard and seen everything,” Brisker posted on X on April 2, quoting a post featuring Johnson’s comments on the matter. “We’ll be ready. No Comparisons #TheStandard.”
Brisker finished the 2024 season with 40 total tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 pass deflections, 1.0 sacks, 1 interception, and 1 forced fumble. Brisker has also missed two games in each of his first two seasons with concussions. He has said several times this offseason that he was back healthy after his extended absence last season.
He is not concerned about lingering effects since it is a matter of feeling.
“Really, I had to retrain my nervous system,” Brisker told CasinoBeats’ Kyle Odegard in an interview published on March 31. “That is why I took so long. It wasn’t my brain, it wasn’t my head. It was really my nervous system, and once I retrained that, I felt great.”
That is good news for the Bears.
Brisker posted back-to-back seasons with 100-plus total tackles, and he had 9 deflections in 2023.
It is also good news for Brisker. He is in the final year of his four-year, $7.3 million rookie scale contract. The Bears have been good about rewarding their own players, but availability will surely factor into the equation.
Bears Secondary Whole Again
Brisker rejoins a secondary that includes fellow safety Kevin Byard, All-Pro corner Jaylon Johnson, and fellow youngsters, CBs Kyler Gordon and Tyrique Stevenson.
The Bears missed the outspoken safety’s physical presence on the back end.
Brisker injured himself on a play that also saw Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble suffer a concussion. The Bears’ safety finished the game only to self-report feeling symptoms before the ensuing week of practice.
This group has been the strength of the unit for years. The Bears’ additions to the front four – Dayo Odeyingbo and Grady Jarrett – should help boost pass coverage.
That should also simplify things for Bears linebackers T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds.