Chicago Bears haven’t lost playoff hopes just yet, but their path to the postseason is now getting even harder. The team announced that their talented linebacker Roquan Smith is dealing with a torn pectoral muscle and that the injury will put him out for the remainder of the season.
The news was confirmed by Bears’ head coach Matt Nagy, who explained that Smith was injured in the opening drive of their 31-24 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday.
“I really thought you felt him especially here in the last several games really turning it on, really playing fast,” said Nagy. “He’s always had that every play that he gets, every game that he plays, for the rest of his career, he’s only going to get better and better in my opinion… it’s just unfortunate that it ended like that.”
Nagy also added that he isn’t sure about the timetable for Smith’s recovery, saying that the 22-year-old might miss the team’s early offseason programs.
Bears drafted Roquan Smith eighth overall in 2018 NFL Draft, and he immediately delivered with a team-high 122 tackles in his rookie season. He also added 5.0 sacks, five pass deflections and one interception en route to PFWA All-Rookie Team.
Smith’s sophomore season, however, wasn’t all that great as he struggled early in the season and even missed some time due to “personal problems.” In 12 games he played this year, he recorded 101 tackles, 2.0 sacks, and one interception.
