Bears Injury Report: Star WR to Have Concerning Offseason Surgery

Chicago Bears injury report Anthony Miller injury

Getty Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy and GM Ryan Pace told the media that multiple Bears players are dealing with injuries that will require offseason surgery. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy met with the media at Halas Hall Tuesday morning to discuss the team’s disappointing 2019 season.

Pace and Nagy fielded multiple questions about the team, most of which surrounded quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and the team’s offensive failures in Nagy’s second season as head coach. While Pace and Nagy both publicly stuck by Trubisky, assuring everyone in the room and beyond that he was their starter in 2020, they also shared some news about the injuries of several star players, including tight end Trey Burton, offensive lineman Kyle Long and second-year wide receiver Anthony Miller.


Bears Injury Report: Surgery for Burton and Miller … Again

Pace told reporters that tight end Trey Burton, who was placed on the injured reserve list in the second half of the season, just had surgery on his hip. Burton had offseason surgery last offseason on his groin, and he never seemed fully ready to go in 2019.

Based on Pace’s comments today, the hope for the Bears is that Burton will be ready in time for training camp next year.

Perhaps more concerning for the Bears is Anthony Miller, who had surgery to repair his injured left shoulder last offseason. Miller injured the same shoulder while returning a kickoff in place of Cordarrelle Patterson, and Pace informed the media that team doctors have recommended another offseason surgery for Miller.


Miller Emerged as a Genuine Threat in the Second Half of 2019

After leading the team in touchdowns as a rookie in 2018 with seven, Miller had a promising first season with the Bears. Chicago moved up in the 2018 draft to take him in the second round, and he showed grit playing through his shoulder injury last season.

He missed a good deal of practice time and OTAs last offseason, and that will be the case again, as Miller recovers from a second surgery on the same shoulder. It’s concerning for the Bears and their fans because the status of wide receiver Taylor Gabriel, who suffered multiple concussions this season, remains unknown, and No. 1 wideout Allen Robinson would benefit hugely from another receiving threat on the offense. Thus, Miller is a key piece of Chicago’s offensive puzzle moving forward.

Miller had a bit of a slow start to his 2019 season. He had a total of 17 receptions, 218 yards and no touchdowns through Week 10 – and then, Week 11, something clicked. Miller had two 100+ yard games in the team’s last five games, and he finished the year strong, with 656 yards (a career high) and two scores.

It remains unclear how much the second surgery on his left shoulder will affect his play moving forward, but one thing is certain: Miller has shown flashes of play-making ability, and the Bears will need him to continue to improve moving forward.

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