One of the biggest challenges for any NFL team is to stay somewhat lucky on the injury front. This is something the Chicago Bears were able to do in 2018, where they suffered no significant long-term losses.
But the 2019 season was another story. The Bears suffered a number of injuries, including significant defense and attack losses. The Chicago defense lost three of their best players and their tight first three all landed on an injured reserve.
Fortunately, this offseason gave these players the opportunity to get healthy in a crucial 2020 season.
Let’s take a look at the nine players that the bears have returned from an injury before heading to training camp.
DT Akiem Hicks
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The biggest boost to this Bears defense will be the return of Akiem Hicks, who anchors the middle of the defensive line. Last season, Hicks suffered an elbow injury to the Las Vegas Raiders in week 5. He landed on an injured reserve for eight weeks before returning to Chicago’s biggest game of the season against the Packers from Green Bay in week 15. But Hicks made the elbow injury that kept him most of the season worse.
The return of Hicks will strengthen all of the top seven, including the pass rush, which struggled last season in his absence. In May, Hicks shared a video of his first time lifting weights without an elbow splint. And he is confident that he will be ready to come to training camp.
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