Bears coach Lovie Smith kept himself from getting choked up while discussing the injury-plagued career of free safety Mike Brown on Monday. It’s no wonder Smith was reluctant, at that moment, to confirm the bad news.
Reality set in several hours after Smith addressed the media, when the Bears officially announced that both Brown and nose tackle Dusty Dvoracek — two defensive starters — are done for this season after suffering ACL ruptures in their left knees.
Both players were injured in the second half of Sunday’s 14-3 loss to the Chargers in San Diego.
For Brown, it marked the fourth consecutive time his season has ended prematurely due to injury. Sunday’s setback could make the Bears unwilling to take another chance on him in the future, but that doesn’t necessarily mean Brown’s playing career is complete. Smith said during his WBBM (780-AM) evening radio show he expects Brown to attempt a comeback.
His leadership will be missed this season, although Danieal Manning started 17 games at free safety last season, including the Super Bowl.
But it’s hard to replace the intangibles Brown brings.
“He’s our team leader, great guy, a competitor,” Smith said. “If I continue to talk about it, I could get emotional.”
Brown played in six games last season before suffering a torn ligament in his right foot. In 2005, he missed the final four games with a calf strain. He missed 31 games over the previous three seasons. “Freak accidents happen,” Smith said. “It just seems like they’ve happened to Mike more than they should.”
Brown’s latest devastation appeared to be unnecessary. Brown came sprinting on the blitz in the fourth quarter only to get collared from behind by Chargers fullback Lorenzo Neal. No penalty was called.
Dvoracek suffered his injury during a fourth-quarter kick return when he tried to block the Chargers’ Quentin Jammer but planted wrong and fell to the ground.
With Dvoracek out, Darwin Walker will start alongside Tommie Harris on the interior. Anthony Adams will back up Walker. And practice squad member Antonio Garay is expected to join the 53-man roster to add depth on the line.
This season’s Bears appear ready to make the losses of their teammates a rallying point, not a rally killer. “The end of the world isn’t here,” said strong safety Adam Archuleta. “We’re going to go out and we’re going to play well Sunday.”
