The Bears received their first dose of bad injury news on Tuesday when it was confirmed that cornerback Artie Burns will be lost for the season with a torn ACL.
It would be disingenuous, however, to say that Burns' season-ending injury is devastating to this roster. The former 2016 first-round pick (Steelers) was a bust during his tenure in Pittsburgh but was looking for a reboot in Chicago, and with the departure of Prince Amukamara during the offseason, there was a legitimate opportunity for Burns to rewrite his career narrative as part of the Bears' ferocious defense.
He was on track to do that prior to Tuesday's injury. Burns was running with the first team. Second-round pick Jaylon Johnson is in the midst of a rookie learning curve that's been complicated by offseason shoulder surgery, and Kevin Toliver, while impressive in spurts last year, is far from a surefire NFL starter.
The opportunity was there for Burns. Now, it's gone. But it doesn't mean the Bears are in dire straights.
In fact, an argument can be made that Chicago's secondary would've been on shaky ground if a player like Burns proved to be the best option to start opposite Kyle Fuller. It's natural to feel worried when a potential starter gets zapped by a serious injury, but it's difficult imagining a scenario where Burns would've been an integral part of this defense in 2020. He hasn't played like an NFL starter over the last four years, and with such an emphasis placed on competition at Bears camp, Burns lining up with the starters feels more like an attempt to light a fire under Johnson and Toliver than an endorsement of his skill set.
So where do the Bears go from here? It's simple: right back to where they should be. It's time for Johnson to rise up and prove why he was a top 50 pick out of Utah.
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Just don't expect that to happen right away.
The first man up to replace Burns will be Toliver. He played 175 snaps in 2019 and while his Pro Football Focus grade wasn't great (51.4), he does have in-game experience in Chuck Pagano's defense. That experience will help him maintain an early edge over Johnson, but it won't last long.
Johnson was considered a potential first-round pick during the 2020 NFL draft cycle but concerns about his shoulders forced him into Round 2. It was a boon for the Bears, especially with how things are playing out now. Johnson's combination of size and athletic ability is more appealing than any other cornerback on the roster aside from Fuller. He profiles as a potential shutdown corner in the league, and those guys usually don't sit the bench.
Toliver and Johnson are locks to make the team. We know this. So is Buster Skrine, who will resume his role as the Bears' primary nickel corner.
The player who will benefit the most from Burns' injury could be last year's sixth-round pick, Duke Shelley, who prior to today's ACL news was on shaky ground to make the final roster. At this point, the Bears need as many healthy corners as possible to begin the season. Shelley, by default, should back his way onto the roster.
Burns' injury will Iopen the door for 2020 fifth-round pick, Kindle Vildor, too.
Vildor felt like a safe 53-man roster guy anyway, but now there's one less veteran blocking his path to playing time.
The Bears carried five cornerbacks for most of last season. Had Burns remained healthy, Ryan Pace would've had some difficult decisions to make if he plans on keeping only five cornerbacks again in 2020. Chicago had seven cornerbacks worthy of consideration; now, they're down to six.
Ultimately, that fifth and potentially final spot will come down to Vildor and Shelley. It wouldn't be a surprise, however, if the Bears carry six cornerbacks this year because of how important the position is and how volatile the season is likely to be because of COVID-19.
Yes, it's an empty feeling anytime a Bears player is lost for the year in training camp. It's even worse when that player is a guy who had a chance to be a fantastic success story like Burns.
Fortunately, Chicago is well-positioned to handle this loss, especially considering that Burns was more projection than production at this point in his career.
How Artie Burns' injury impacts Bears' cornerback depth chart originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
