Jaquan Brisker ‘can’t wait’ to play the Green Bay Packers. But the Chicago Bears safety first faces a big test in practice Wednesday.
Chicago Bears safety Jaquan Brisker didn’t get to experience the Green Bay Packers rivalry from the perspective of Soldier Field last season.
Brisker was recovering from a concussion during his rookie season when the Packers visited Chicago in December and wasn’t even in the stadium during the Bears’ 28-19 loss.
So he’s itching to return this week ahead of Sunday’s season opener against the Packers after missing much of training camp with an undisclosed injury. He expects the atmosphere to be “live.”
“People hate Green Bay. I hate Green Bay. So I can’t wait,” Brisker said. “They didn’t get to see me (here) last year. They’re going to get to see me this year, though.”
Bears coach Matt Eberflus said Brisker is “progressing” after working out over the weekend, and Eberflus reiterated that Wednesday’s padded practice will be a key measuring stick to see if Brisker is ready.
The Bears held a short practice Monday at Halas Hall that included individual drills, special teams work and seven-on-seven play to shake off the rust after a long weekend. Every player on the 53-man roster was present during the stretching portion that’s open to the media, but the first injury report won’t be released until Wednesday, when the Bears resume their regular in-season practice schedule.
“He had really good workouts this weekend, as did (fellow safety) Eddie (Jackson),” Eberflus said. “We’re looking at both those guys in a positive way, and Wednesday will tell us more.”
As a rookie, Brisker worked his way back from a preseason thumb injury to play in Week 1. The next week, he had 10 tackles in the Bears’ trip to Lambeau Field.
Brisker, who declined to share what injury he’s dealing with now, said he has been able to stay around the team more this time. He has tried to stay mentally and physically prepared and vocal with his teammates while making sure he didn’t suffer any setbacks.
Brisker said he feels “way better” than he did two weeks ago, but Wednesday will tell if he feels completely like himself again.
“The physicality part, I don’t ever need to worry about that. I love being physical,” Brisker said. “It doesn’t matter what type of injury it is, I’m going to be physical. (I need to) just make sure that I can move and things like that. Get back right and make sure I’m in shape.”
Having tone-setters in Brisker and Jackson back would be big for the Bears defense Sunday as it tries to make an impression against the new-look Packers under quarterback Jordan Love.
Safeties coach Andre Curtis said last month that Brisker was “having a heck of a camp” before he missed his first practice Aug. 5. The 2022 second-round pick had a solid rookie season with 104 tackles, five tackles for a loss, four sacks, two passes defended, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
The expectation that he could make a leap in Year 2 has coaches excited.
“He has gotten better at a lot of different things,” Curtis said. “His timing. His communication. His breaks were cleaner. I think we’re scratching the surface on this kid. He has more to give.”
When asked Monday about his camp before the injury, Brisker quipped that it was an “All-Pro camp.”
“I’m telling you. You’ve never seen it before,” Brisker said. “I’m still on that path. … I’m still aiming for that All-Pro practice, All-Pro game reps and stuff like that.
“I got a lot stronger than before camp. I wasn’t as strong as I am now and as fast as I am now. So I feel great, I’m not going to lie.”
Now the Bears need to see if he can bring that feeling back to the field Sunday.
