Chicago Bears safety Douglas Coleman III has been released from a hospital in the Kansas City area and is returning to Chicago after a concerning injury during Thursday night’s preseason game against the Super Bowl champion Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. The 26-year-old Coleman was taken off the field on a stretcher after a frightening incident early in the third quarter.
During the game, Coleman was injured while attempting to tackle Chiefs wide receiver Cornell Powell. After the collision, Coleman fell to the ground and remained motionless, prompting both teams’ players to kneel and medical personnel to rush to his aid. The sight of Coleman being loaded onto a stretcher and onto a medical cart was met with a supportive ovation from the Arrowhead Stadium crowd and a show of concern from Bears players and coaches.
The Bears went on to secure a 34-21 victory over the Chiefs, capping their preseason with an undefeated 4-0 record. Despite the win, the injury cast a shadow over the game. However, there was a sense of relief on Friday as Bears head coach Matt Eberflus provided an update on Coleman’s condition during an interview with 670 The Fan in Chicago.
Eberflus reported that Coleman is “in good spirits” and has been discharged from the hospital. “Douglas Coleman, the young man who was injured yesterday, has been released from the hospital and is now walking around,” Eberflus said. “I spoke with him earlier, and he’s doing well. He’s currently flying back to Chicago and should be landing around this time.”
The coach also noted that Coleman had shown positive signs of recovery even before being taken to the hospital. “While I was on the field, he was moving his limbs and gave us a thumbs up, which was uplifting for our team,” Eberflus added. “He is currently at the hospital for further evaluation.”
Coleman, who went undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft after playing college football at Texas Tech University, spent the last two seasons in the Canadian Football League. He signed a futures contract with the Bears this offseason, making his injury particularly impactful as he strives to secure his place on the team. The incident has certainly cast a spotlight on Coleman’s resilience and the Bears’ preseason achievements.
