As the cart carrying Mark Bradley raced off to the Bears’ locker room Sunday at Ford Field, the rookie receiver gamely flashed a thumbs up to his teammates.
But Bradley’s spirit and defiant optimism couldn’t overcome the harsh reality that an MRI confirmed Monday.
Bradley needs surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, ending the second-round pick’s season just as it appeared to take flight. He will undergo surgery when the swelling subsides, likely in the next week to 10 days.
“It’s tough for him and tough for our football team,” coach Lovie Smith said. “You have a player who’s really coming into his own. … It’s a setback for him, but he’ll come back from it.”
Where the Bears ultimately go to find their No. 2 receiver opposite Muhsin Muhammad remains to be seen. Justin Gage, the season-opening starter before losing his job to Bradley, is expected to get first crack after catching two passes for 47 yards against Detroit.
But with the speedy Bernard Berrian sidelined another five to seven weeks after thumb surgery, the Bears may want more speed than Gage can provide and work to develop rookie Airese Currie or Carl Ford.
Smith didn’t rule out signing a free agent, although he rarely hesitates to go with young players.
“As we do any time we need any position, we’ll look at everything that’s available,” Smith said. “But we have a good football player right here in Airese Currie.
“It’s also on Gage, Bobby Wade, Carl Ford. It’s time for all of them to step up. I thought Justin Gage played well [Sunday] when he had his opportunities. And he’ll only get better.”
