If the Chicago Bears didn’t have bad luck, they’d have no luck at all.
Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune reports that safety DeAndre Houston-Carson suffered a broken arm during the team’s preseason win against the Denver Broncos last Saturday. How much time Houston-Carson will miss has yet to be determined, though it sounds like the injury will cost the 25-year-old safety a significant amount of regular season time. The injury chips away at the depth in Chicago’s secondary, while removing one of the special teams’ top contributors from the mix. What a bummer for the 2016 sixth-round pick who was climbing the depth chart as he entered his third NFL season.
Houston-Carson’s special teams contributions and his improved play in training camp and during the preseason positioned him to be a primary backup behind Adrian Amos and Eddie Jackson. But without Houston-Carson, the Bears will now turn to Deon Bush and Deiondre’ Hall to fill in. Hall has a battle of his own to overcome after being handed down a one-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.
And to think, Houston-Carson was playing well during the preseason, standing out the most when he was one of Pro Football Focus’ five highest-graded safeties to play in Preseason Week 1. His willingness and ability to perform at a high level on special teams should not be overlooked. Finding special teams contributors who can also chip in as a defensive back with some semblance of reliability don’t grow on trees. So if the Bears are expected to be without him for a long while, then it’s important to find a viable replacement who could help over the long-haul. Of course, finding that player doesn’t figure to be easy.