BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- Linebacker Dom DeCicco turned out to be one of the Chicago Bears' most pleasant surprises last year when the undrafted rookie free agent out of Pittsburgh finished second on the team with 17 special teams tackles. Coming off such a productive year DeCicco figured to be a safe bet to make the 53-man roster, especially since special teams coordinator Dave Toub and linebackers coach Bob Babich are known to be fans of the second-year player.

However, DeCicco suffered a significant groin injury last week against Denver which further complicates the Bears situation at linebacker.

“I was just running and I made a cut and it just went,” DeCicco explained on Monday.

The question now becomes when DeCicco will be able to return to the field. Generally when it comes to these types of injuries, teams prefer to wait a week and then re-evaluate the situation. The fact DeCicco is able to stand on the field and walk around on crutches is encouraging, although it’s unknown when he’ll be cleared to return to practice or if he’ll be healthy enough to participate in perhaps the Bears’ final preseason game on Aug. 30 at Cleveland. The good news is it doesn't sound as if DeCicco tore the groin muscle.

“I feel like I deserve to make the team and these are the chances where I can show that,” DeCicco said. “It’s tough to sit out and just watch everybody else play. But I’m going to watch everybody else play and just take as many mental reps as I can and learn as much as I can and try to help everybody else out.”

Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, Nick Roach, Geno Hayes and Blake Costanzo appear to be roster locks, which leaves DeCicco in competition with J.T. Thomas, Patrick Trahan, Jabara Williams and newcomers K.C. Asiodu and Xavier Adibi if the Bears decide to keep just six linebackers on the final roster.