Bears defensive tackle Henry Melton is carted off after being injured in the third quarter against the Steelers on Sunday in Pittsburgh. | Don Wright/AP
Defensive tackle Henry Melton tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee Sunday night, Bears coach Marc Trestman confirmed Monday, and will miss the rest of the season.
Melton will have surgery in a few weeks once swelling subsides.
He hurt his knee while rushing the passer against David DeCastro.
“I watched it on tape,” Trestman said. “There was no collision.”
Trestman said Melton was disappointed; he stayed on the phone with Melton while both were driving to their homes after the team charter landed early Monday. Later in the morning, Trestman spent time with Melton and his mother, and called the situation “terribly disappointing.”
On Twitter, Melton thanked fans “for the love and support” over the last day.
“I WILL be ready next season,” he wrote. “But in the meantime I will grind harder than ever before and cheer on my Bears to the (championship). Everything happens for a reason.”
The coach said he liked Nate Collins, who is in the team’s rotation and is the likely starter Sunday, and practice squad player Zach Minter. However, the Bears will discuss how to fill the hole Monday, the coach said, hinting at a roster move.
Trestman said that Charles Tillman received treatment Monday for what he called a “tight” groin, probably a result of overcompensation from a lingering knee problem. The team will be “very cautious” with the cornerback in practice this week, he said.
