Third Concussion in Three Years Puts Jaquan Brisker on IR
The Bears placed Jaquan Brisker in concussion protocol on October 7, and he’s yet to be cleared to practice or play. The safety reported concussion-like symptoms one day after the Bears beat the Panthers 36-10. He did not travel with the team to play the Jaguars in London.
.@JaquanBrisker knocks it loose and #DaBears take it away!
📺: #CARvsCHI on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/nHG3SzrjTG— NFL (@NFL) October 6, 2024
The third-year defensive back had a violent collision with Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble during that Week 5 tilt and will miss his fifth game. As a result, the Bears placed Brisker on IR Thursday morning. He is eligible to return in Week 15, but unless Chicago is in the playoff race, it makes much more sense to keep him sidelined for the remainder of the season. This marks the third concussion of his career of his three-year career. That will counter any decision to play the 25-year-old until he is fully healed.
Brisker missed two games as a rookie after sustaining a concussion in Atlanta in November 2022. He was evaluated for a head injury by medical staffers twice but was allowed to return to the game on both occasions.
In a 30-12 win over the Raiders on Oct. 22, 2023, Brisker was evaluated for a concussion after being involved in a collision on a 2-point conversion attempt but played the rest of the game. Brisker was ruled out the following week for what the team described as an “illness.” That was later diagnosed as a concussion.
Coach Matt Eberflus already had ruled out Brisker for Sunday’s Packers game.
“[Brisker’s] made progress,” Eberflus said on November 1. “He’s got into the meetings. He’s got into the walk-through and got into those things and then has those symptoms. Again, it’s always gonna be about his safety, his health, and where he is [in his recovery].”
Brisker has 40 tackles in five games. He also has one sack, one interception, a forced fumble, and two pass breakups. Third-year safety Elijah Hicks will continue to start in Brisker’s absence.
