It didn’t take long for Ben Johnson to deal with one of the worst aspects of head coaching a team in the NFL: injuries. After giving his starters playing time against the Buffalo Bills in Week 2 of the preseason, Johnson had to watch his team suffer significant losses.
First, it was running back Deion Hankins who limped off the field after a hit from behind. Next, it was third-year cornerback Terell Smith, who suffered what appears to be a far more brutal injury.
What Happened to Terell Smith?
As the Bears took a commanding 28-0 lead over the Bills, the stage was set for Johnson to record his first win in the league, albeit in preseason. But right at the tail end of the half, Chicago saw a shocking turn of events on the field.
Courtney Cronin of ESPN immediately took to X to cover the event. Calling it a non-contact injury, she reported the severity of the injury, including how quickly a cart was brought out to escort Smith.
“Man, that’s awful. Terell Smith carted back to the locker room with a towel over his head. Watching the replay, it looks like a non-contact injury.”
Terell Smith is being taken off the field on the cart. pic.twitter.com/yKlDRvIMrl
— Nicholas Moreano (@NicholasMoreano) August 18, 2025
Soon after, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune confirmed that the Minnesota alum had been ruled out for the remainder of the game with the issue arising in his knee. “Bears ruled CB Terell Smith (knee) out for the remainder of the game. Hopefully it’s not nearly as serious as it looked.”
The injury was especially brutal for Chicago, which is coming into the season with quite a few questions due to major changes in the offseason. Drafted in 2023, Smith had carved out a role for himself in the secondary.
In two years, he was already up to 68 total tackles and 10 pass deflections. The focus for Johnson, understandably, was on improving the offensive side of the ball. As a result, a majority of the moves in the offseason were centered around that unit.
The offensive line, in particular, saw a significant number of veteran additions in the form of Drew Dalman, Joe Thuney, and Jonah Jackson. However, the defense was left relatively untouched, leading many to believe that it might be lower on the Bears’ priority chart.
The injury to Smith, which already looks like serious business, isn’t going to help their cause for a potential playoff berth.
