LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The Chicago Bears expect to be without Coby Bryant into the regular season after the starting safety suffered a left knee injury Monday morning during the team’s first padded practice of training camp.

The injury occurred during a period featuring safeties, tight ends and running backs. Bryant left practice and did not return. Bryant suffered a hyperextension and bone bruise with an estimated recovery timeline of eight to 10 weeks, according to a league source who requested anonymity to discuss a sensitive health matter. The Bears open the season Sept. 13 at Carolina.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter was first to report the injury specifics and timeline.

Bryant, fresh off winning a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks, joined the Bears in free agency in March, signing a three-year, $40 million contract with $25.75 million guaranteed. He had been acclimating quickly at Halas Hall and was being leaned into as a dynamic playmaker and tone-setting leader.

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“It always sucks to see,” Bears tight end Colston Loveland said of Bryant. “That’s part of it. He’s tough. He’s a dog. He’s going to be fine.”

Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, engaged in one-on-one drills on another field when Bryant went down, didn’t learn of the injury until a subsequent seven-on-seven period when he went to ask Bryant a question and couldn’t find him.

Said Stevenson: “Definitely praying for him to be out there tomorrow or end of this week with us.”

Stevenson said Bryant has been a “spark plug” for the Bears defense since his arrival.

“He’s come in with the juice,” Stevenson said. “Obviously from practice, when he’s coming out in the middle of the field to make PBUs (pass break-ups), he’s just a spark plug. He’s bringing that energy every day. And he done won at the highest level. So he’s not letting nobody slip under the standard.”

In Bryant’s absence Monday, veteran Cam Lewis filled in with the No. 1 defense. Lewis has also been taking reps at slot cornerback with the first-unit defense during camp as the defense explores contingency plans to account for Kyler Gordon’s continued absence.

Gordon remains on the physically unable to perform list with a calf issue that has kept him off the field since the spring.