Chicago Bears safety Douglas Coleman III was released from the hospital after a frightening injury during Thursday night's preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs. The 26-year-old was taken off the field on a stretcher during the team’s preseason game against the Super Bowl champion Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.

Coleman was hurt early in the third quarter after attempting to tackle Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Cornell Powell. He fell to the ground and lay motionless as players from both teams took a knee and medical personnel attended to the player. Coleman was eventually put on a stretcher and placed on a medical cart. Bears players and coaches came to the cart to show their support.

Fans at Arrowhead Stadium gave Coleman an ovation as he was carted off the field.

The Bears would go on to defeat the Chiefs 34-21 to finish the preseason with a 4-0 record.

Coleman's Injury and Recovery

Coleman’s injury occurred on the first play of the second half. He came darting in to make a tackle near the Chiefs sideline, but his neck bent awkwardly to the side and the former CFL standout went down on impact. He laid motionless as trainers from both teams rushed onto the field to check on him.

While Coleman lay motionless, players from both teams surrounded him as he was eventually attended to by doctors on the field. His facemask was removed, and he was strapped onto a backboard before being carted out of the stadium.

“When I was on the field, standing over there on the Chiefs sideline, he was moving his limbs. He gave us a thumbs up so that was really lifting to our football team but I don’t have anything more than that,” Eberflus said. “He is at the hospital right now getting evaluated.”

The Impact of Coleman's Injury

Coleman, 26, played college football at Texas Tech, where in 2016 he was a freshman and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was a junior poised to become a first-round NFL draft pick. Coleman moved to safety as a senior and was an All-Big 12 selection.

Coleman went undrafted in 2020 but signed with the Broncos as a free agent, spending time on their practice squad. He spent the past three years with the Ottawa Redblacks, switching between safety and linebacker, and appeared in 17 games last season with 60 tackles, four sacks, three interceptions and both interception and fumble returns for touchdowns.

The Bears have a deep secondary, so Coleman’s absence in training camp won’t be a major setback. However, he was competing for a roster spot and the team will have to re-evaluate his status in the coming days.

Bears' Preseason Finale

The Bears had multiple players suffer injuries in the preseason finale, which they won 34-17. Offensive lineman Larry Borom suffered a right ankle injury on the offense’s second drive and exited the field on a cart. Eberflus said Borom would have scans done on the ankle Friday.

It was a significant injury in a game without starters because Borom was in line to be the Bears swing tackle this season, backing up left tackle Braxton Jones and right tackle Darnell Wright. Borom also can play both guard positions.

Borom, a 2021 fifth-round pick, started 23 games and played in 39 over the last three seasons for the Bears.

Wide receiver Nsimba Webster also left the field on a cart after he injured his groin in the second quarter. And running back Ian Wheeler suffered a knee injury, Eberflus said.

The Bears went 4-0 in the preseason, finishing with a convincing victory over the reigning Super Bowl champions. The team will now shift its focus to the regular season, which begins in just a few weeks.

A Look Ahead

The Bears have a lot to be excited about heading into the regular season. They have a young and talented roster, and they are looking to make a run at the playoffs. With the release of Coleman from the hospital, the team will be able to focus on preparing for Week 1, which begins in just a few weeks.

The Bears have a lot of work to do between now and then, but the team is confident that they can have a successful season. The team will need to address the injuries to Borom, Webster and Wheeler, as well as make sure that Pickens is ready for the start of the season. But, with a solid foundation in place, the Bears are looking forward to the 2024 season.