Terrell Smith left the Bears’ preseason tilt with Buffalo late in the first half, carted off with a knee injury and ruled out for the game. Chicago later confirmed the setback, a development that tightens the team’s cornerback depth as camp carries on. The moment also casts a clearer light on the Bears’ defensive back rotation and which reserves could earn elevated reps early in the season.

Smith is a 2023 fifth-rounder headed into his third season in Chicago. His absence in August creates opportunities for the Bears’ depth charts to be tested, with fantasy managers watching how coaches deploy backups at corner. Buffalo, meanwhile, saw Mike White under center in this tune-up, a reminder of the Bills’ QB depth behind Josh Allen and how preseason reps might influence fantasy and betting angles as August winds down.

Austin Booker’s knee injury in Sunday night’s Bears-Bills game compounds Chicago’s growing list of health concerns as teams trim rosters. Booker had emerged as a preseason standout, collecting a sack, a QB hit and two tackles against Buffalo after a three-sack opener versus Miami. His exit leaves Chicago shorthanded at edge and could shuffle the Bears’ rotation as they evaluate depth in the trenches ahead of Week 1 preparations.

With Booker sidelined and Terell Smith carted off with a non-contact injury, plus Deion Hankins and Dominique Robinson leaving the field, Chicago’s defensive roster faces immediate stress. Fantasy managers should monitor snap shares in Chicago’s front seven and secondary, as backups may absorb more reps in coming preseason tuneups, potentially lifting the value of a few depth pieces if injuries linger or shift roles.

Terell Smith exited Chicago’s preseason game with a left-leg injury, wiping out a key early-season depth piece. The Bears already wrestle with Jaylon Johnson’s lingering absence and Kyler Gordon’s hamstring, leaving the outside cornerback rotation thinner than anticipated. Smith had surged in camp, pushing for the second outside cornerback job against Tyrique Stevenson and Nahshon Wright. With Smith’s health uncertain, Stevenson and Wright could gain real opportunities to claim outside snaps, while Johnson’s Week 1 status looms large. Fantasy implications center on defensive back rotations and opportunistic streaming options if Smith misses time, especially once Johnson returns and Stevenson/Wright press for roles. Stay tuned to practice reports for confirmation on Week 1 corner assignments against the Vikings.

The Chicago Bears are shoring up their depleted secondary by lining up three defensive backs this week: safety Mark Perry and cornerbacks Mekhi Garner and Kaleb Hayes. Their signings come after a weekend preseason tilt with the Dolphins in which several Bears DBs left the game with injuries, and with Jaylon Johnson on the NFI list and Kyler Gordon and Zah Frazier dealing with health issues. The trio participated in a larger Monday tryout, underscoring Black-and-White’s intent to add depth for camp and early preseason rather than immediate long-term fixes. The moves signal Chicago’s plan to weather practice wear and ongoing camp injuries while depth players earn a chance to prove themselves.

Perry, Garner, and Hayes bring a mix of undrafted free-agent background and special-teams versatility. Perry, a 2024 UDFA from TCU who has bounced among practice squads; Garner, a 2023 UDFA who appeared in three games with Philadelphia and later spent time with the Renegades; Hayes, another 2023 UDFA with multiple NFL stops but no regular-season games yet—each adds potential depth and competition for snaps in a position group hit hard by injuries. With Johnson on NFI and the Bears cautious about training camp, these additions aim to stabilize the back end without disrupting player development as Chicago eyes a fuller health return in advance of deeper preseason work.

The Chicago Bears are undergoing significant changes as they aim to solidify their cornerback position ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft. Key players Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon have recently secured contracts, solidifying their roles as the team's top corners. With Tyrique Stevenson looking to bounce back after a rocky season, the Bears' secondary is geared for a potential leap under the guidance of new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.

Despite some offseason departures, the Bears have bolstered their depth through free agency, leaving the cornerback position with a low need for additional talent. As the draft approaches, the focus may shift to other critical areas, with standout prospects such as Travis Hunter and Jahdae Barron potentially slipping out of reach due to Chicago's minimal requirement for more corners. With seven picks, including a top-10 selection, the Bears will prioritize their future while evaluating the current depth chart.