(Photo: Matt Marton , USA TODAY Sports)
LAKE FOREST, Ill., — It's been a long road for Chicago Bears' safety Jaquan Brisker in his quest to get back on the field after missing most of last season due to a concussion suffered in week five against the Carolina Panthers.
Brisker, a physical player known for his swagger and energy, was a huge loss for a Bears secondary that didn't perform up to the unit's standards, which were set during the back half of the 2023 season. In his first time speaking to the local media since his injury last year, Brisker reflected on the difficulties associated with his concussion and time away from the football field.
"It was hard," Brisker said. "It was hard being away from football, especially week to week, you know. It was kind of getting sad and depressing, things like that. But got over it, it's time to move on and I'm back now."
Despite the emotional and physical challenges of being unable to play down the stretch last season as the team struggled, Brisker was able to lean on his teammates to get him through the last grueling months of a disappointing 2024 campaign. In particular, Brisker pointed out the role that veterans Montez Sweat and Kevin Byard, among others played in keeping his spirits up.
"My teammates really helped me," Brisker said. "Helped me get the stress down. Because I wanted to be out there bad, like super bad. And I just couldn't. A lot of teammates helped me, especially, you know, shoutout to Montez and things like that, shoutout to teammates like that who were talking to me, who let me get in the hyperbaric chamber and things like that, just told me to relax, we got this, things like that. Once they told me that, I was more relaxed. Byron and KB, I could name so many. I appreciate them for sure."
Now healthy and back on the field, Brisker enters a critical year both for the team as well as himself individually. From a team standpoint, Brisker will be a key piece of a young secondary that needs to adapt to a different style of defense with Dennis Allen brought in as the defensive coordinator. Despite the transition, Brisker feels confident about what he can bring to the table in the new defense.
On his role in Allen's scheme, Brisker said, "Really just like I said before, just show my versatility. Show I'm a Swiss Army knife. Even, if KB and we are going to have plenty of other safeties or other DBs out there, which I love about his defense and how he moves pieces around and how we run so many different things and we can all make it look the same or vice-versa. Things like that. That's what I love about it. DA is smart and things like that. I know he's going to put us in the right positions."
While there seem to be few concerns about what Brisker will bring on the field this season, keeping him on the field is another question. Entering the final year of his rookie contract, a lot is on the line for Brisker as he plays for a second contract with the Bears. Over the first three seasons of his career, Brisker has been an impactful player and a tone-setter when on the field, but injuries have been a struggle for him. Brisker has yet to play a full season due to injury in the NFL, something that he will have to prove as a long-term piece moving forward.
"Just stay healthy," Brisker said in regard to what he has to prove this year. "I don't have to prove anything. When I'm out there, I make plays. I go attack the ball and I come down and hit. I come down and tackle, and I'm a leader. So really just have to be out there."
Overall, it's going to be a pivotal year for Brisker coming off a lost season. In a defense that needs his brand of physicality and energy in the backend of the secondary, Brisker will be key in whether the defense rebounds back to the heights it reached near the end of 2023. Even though last year was a tough one for Brisker dealing with his concussion, as OTA's continue, he has indicated that it's time to turn the page and place his attention on playing his game moving forward.
"I want to hit right now," said Brisker. "I’m going to play at full speed. I’m going to be a playmaker. Nothing really changes, it’s just I’m gonna be stronger, I’m gonna be a lot more mentally focused. My mind is really like probably like five or six years new or whatever the doctor said. I did so much work. So I’m really past it, like I’m really moving on."
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