After watching five players leave their third preseason against the Tennessee Titans with injuries, the Chicago Bears saw two potential rotation players make an early exit.
Outside linebacker Lamarr Houston and wide receiver Victor Cruz both left with knee injuries during Thursday’s game against the Cleveland Browns. Houston was ruled out with a knee injury, while Cruz’s return was listed as questionable. Both players entered Thursday with eyes on securing a roster spot before Saturday’s cut-down deadline. Unfortunately, both also came into 2017 with lengthy histories of knee injuries.
Houston has underwent ACL surgeries in 2014 and 2016, which caused him to miss a total of 20 games in those seasons. When he was healthy in 2015, Houston earned a 71.7 grade from Pro Football Focus as he picked up eight sacks in 16 games.
Cruz burst onto the scene with the New York Giants, but a variety of injuries have limited his playing time on the field. He caught 241 passes for 3,626 yards in 46 games from 2011 to 2013, but has played just 21 regular season games since the start of the 2014 season.