Bears Cut Ties with Johnny Knox

By Chuck Sudo in News on Feb 12, 2013 4:45PM

The Bears offseason moves continued Tuesday with the announcement the team terminated the contract of wide receiver and returner Johnny Knox. Knox was on the Bears’ Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list last season while he rehabbed a major back injury suffered against Seattle in 2011.

Knox started 27 of 45 games in his Bears career and made the Pro Bowl as a returner in 2009. He caught 133 receptions for 2,214 yards and 12 touchdowns in that time frame and said he appreciated the way the Bears treated him last season while he was rehabbing his back injury, which required surgery to repair a fractured vertebra. Tribune Bears beat writer Brad Biggs noted the team could have cut Knox after he failed his physical last season, but that his contract was also expiring at the end of the month, so the move has no salary cap implications.

Knox's horrific injury also serves as a reminder of the brutal nature of playing professional football. His back injury is so severe he may never be able to play the game again.