Bears safety Xavier Woods leaves preseason game vs. Browns with groin injury, Ben Johnson provides limited timeline

The Chicago Bears entered their preseason meeting with the Cleveland Browns with a full secondary picture in mind, but it shifted early when safety Xavier Woods left the game and did not return. Bears head coach Ben Johnson described the problem as a groin injury after Woods exited during the matchup.

Woods had been ramping up in Chicago’s defensive work with the expectation that he would play a significant role. According to Johnson’s remarks relayed by Yahoo Sports, Woods was working toward starting at safety, in part because Coby Bryant is expected to miss time after suffering an injury that will keep him out for roughly four to six months.

In this context, the timing of Woods’ injury is notable. A groin issue can affect a player’s ability to accelerate, change direction, and hold position in coverage, all of which matter for a safety who is being asked to assume more responsibility. Johnson, however, did not provide a timeline for Woods’ return, leaving uncertainty about whether Chicago will need to reshuffle its preseason reps and depth plan at the position.

The update came amid a broader injury-management theme for the Bears’ defense. Johnson’s comments, as summarized in the report, also covered additional injured players from the Browns game and other situations, suggesting the team’s depth chart continues to be tested as the preseason progresses.

For Chicago, this is more than a single-day setback. Preseason snaps are often where roles are clarified, communication patterns are solidified, and coaches decide who gives them the best stability at each spot. When a player expected to ramp toward a starting level is sidelined, the coaching staff may need to lean more heavily on backups and rotational options, particularly in the late-preseason window when evaluation and preparation for the regular season typically intensify.

It also raises a key watch point for the next few days: whether Woods’ injury requires additional evaluation or limits his participation in subsequent practices. Without a timeline, fans and beat reporters will be looking for updates that indicate severity, and whether the Bears can maintain continuity at safety while Bryant remains out.

More broadly, the Bears’ ability to absorb these kinds of injuries will shape how they approach defensive personnel decisions in camp and into the roster-building stretch. If groin-related limitations linger, Chicago may be forced to extend the audition process for who can handle starting-caliber responsibilities at safety. If Woods is able to return quickly, the team can regain its intended structure and use remaining preseason time to sharpen assignments rather than rebuild them.