Defensive tackle Henry Melton did individual drills Wednesday for the first time since suffering a concussion in the Bears’ first preseason game of the summer.
Coach Marc Trestman said that Melton will work out before Thursday night’s preseason finale and continue to work out every day until Monday. That’s when the Bears hope that Melton gets the go-ahead to return to a full workload at practice, which would provide a clear path to his presence in the lineup for the season opener as long as Melton’s conditioning is up to snuff.
“It’s a question mark,” Trestman said, via the team’s website. “He’s still getting himself back into shape. He’s got four or five more days to do that and we’re working with him to try to get him up to speed. His number of reps could change due to his conditioning level a week from Sunday. But we’ve got some time and I certainly would know a little bit more Wednesday and Thursday of next week.”
Melton is playing out the year on the franchise tender, which makes him one of several key Bears players who could become unrestricted free agents after the season. If he’s able to remain healthy and at the level that he’s been at for the last two years, Melton will be in position to cash in with a bigger deal than almost all of them.