Johnny Knox Injury: The Latest Buzz and Prognosis on Chicago Bears WR

Chicago Bears wide receiver Johnny Knox suffered one of the scariest injuries of the 2011 season in Week 15.

In the first quarter of the Bears-Seahawks contest, Knox was hit while scrambling to recover a pass that was knocked out of his hands, his back was bent backwards in an awkward and frankly gruesome manner, and he was carried off the field on a stretcher.

The nature of the injury had many onlookers worried that Knox may have suffered an injury serious enough to jeopardize his ability to live a normal life, let alone play football again. However, Knox's prognosis for a full recovery are good.

Knox underwent surgery on Monday to repair a cracked facet joint in his spine. The procedure was successful, and he should be able to play football again, though no timetable for his return is even being speculated upon at this point, considering the recovery time from the surgery is roughly three or four months.

As a result, the Bears put Knox on injured reserve.

Now that they've lost quarterback Caleb Hanie's primary receiving target, Chicago's chances to edge into the playoffs as a Wild Card team have shrunk significantly.

But most importantly, Knox should recover fully from surgery and even return to the field in 2012. For an injury that could have easily been more severe, that's excellent news.