Bears WR Cam Meredith feared lost for season with torn ACL

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — One by one, they wandered over to Cam Meredith, telling stories of their own catastrophic injuries and offering advice for how he could cope with his.

Meredith, penciled in as the Bears’ top wide receiver, likely tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the first quarter Sunday, when he was the victim of a high-low tackle by Titans linebacker Wesley Woodyard and safety Johnathan Cyprien.

The Bears are awaiting the results of an MRI exam Monday to confirm their fears, but Meredith’s teammates spoke as if he was lost for the season.

On a day when the Bears were besieged by injuries, none was more affecting or substantial as Meredith’s.

“He was important to us,” said tight end Zach Miller, who consoled Meredith. “This sucks.”

Center Hroniss Grasu, who tore his ACL last year, said he wants to help Meredith through the ups and downs of what could be a seasonlong recovery process.

“It’s big, big, big shoes to fill because he’s so talented,” Grasu said.

Quarterback Mike Glennon called Meredith “a guy who was kinda on the incline, always getting better.”

Receiver is far from the Bears’ strongest position. Glennon has praised the depth throughout camp, but the team could enter the season with Kevin White — who has played only four games in two seasons because of injury — as their most reliable wideout.

Meredith, in his third year from Illinois State, led the Bears with 888 receiving yards in 2016. The next two wide receivers on the list, Alshon Jeffery and Eddie Royal, are no longer with the team.

“He was having a heck of a camp, heck of a preseason,” White said. “He was going to have a big year this year.’’

He wasn’t the only Bear to suffer a potential season-ending injury. Long snapper Patrick Scales left in the first half with what the Bears suspect is a “pretty serious knee injury,” coach John Fox said. They’re expected to sign a snapper in the next two days.

Cornerback Prince Amukamara left after the first play with what the team called an ankle injury. He exited the locker room in a walking boot and crutches.

Reserve outside linebacker Dan Skuta suffered a concussion, and outside linebacker Leonard Floyd had a foot problem that didn’t seem serious. Sherrick McManis, whom Fox praised for his special-teams play, left with a hamstring injury.

Meredith’s injury, though, looms largest.

“Cam’s a great guy, a great teammate,” White said. “He works his butt off. It’s always a little sad, a little emotional, when a good guy like that goes down.”

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Email: pfinley@suntimes.com