Chicago Bears safety Xavier Woods suffered a groin injury during Saturday's preseason game against Cleveland at Soldier Field. Woods, signed by the Bears on August 7 to replace injured defensive back Coby Bryant, played only 9 snaps in the first quarter before departing the game. The severity and length of his absence remain unclear following head coach Ben Johnson's initial comments.
Woods appeared to move without apparent pain during his limited playing time, making it difficult to pinpoint exactly when the injury occurred. A possible moment came on his third-to-last defensive snap, when he tracked down Browns running back Dylan Sampson on a 43-yard screen pass. After the play, Woods briefly gestured toward the sideline, potentially signaling to coaches or medical staff, though he remained in the game for two more plays.
The veteran safety, who has started 121 NFL games, previously played under current Bears defensive backs coach Al Harris during the 2020 season with Dallas. His injury compounds Chicago's recent defensive back troubles, following Coby Bryant's significant injury that is expected to sideline him 4-6 months.
