LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) -- As the Bears played the 2020 season without him, veteran nose tackle Eddie Goldman struggled to watch.
Goldman opted out of last season due to COVID-19 concerns. So after five seasons of taking on double teams for the Bears' defense, he spent 2020 watching games in California and feeling removed from the game he loves.
"It was really challenging," Goldman said Wednesday in his first public comments since opting out. "When I made the decision, I weighed all of my options and just thinking I would be away from the game for a year, it was just, it really took a toll on me.
"It was kind of painful because when you're used to the routine, it's like you know what times they're hitting the field. At this time, they're warming up. All right, around this time, they're having the locker room speech.
"All of that and just being away from it just kind of killed me."
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Goldman, 27, also missed the Bears' mandatory veteran minicamp in June, an offense for which he was subject to a fine. And as the Bears welcomed their 90-man roster to Halas Hall on Tuesday, coach Matt Nagy was still uncertain of Goldman's status for this season.
Nagy met with Goldman during the offseason and had indications that he would report for training camp. But it wasn't until he received a text message from a Bears staff member that Nagy was aware Goldman had returned.
"I did the emoji thing with the thumbs up," Nagy said. "And so I was ready to go. Then I hit it back with the exclamation point, the double whammy exclamation point, so I was good. We like having good players show up and good people, and Eddie's a huge part of this defense."
A second-round pick of the Bears in 2015, Goldman has played in 67 career games for Chicago while primarily serving as their nose tackle. Teammates consider him a pivotal piece of the defense because of his ability to take on opposing blockers and create opportunities for teammates. His presence was missed in 2020, when the Bears ranked 15th in rushing defense. With Goldman as its anchor, Chicago ranked ninth in rushing defense in 2019 and first in 2018.
The Bears offered their support for Goldman as he missed out on last season, and he felt "love" upon arrival at Halas Hall.
As camp opened, Bears star pass rusher Khalil Mack was thrilled to see Goldman smiling when he arrived at Halas Hall. Now, he's eager to get Goldman back to work with the defense.
"When you got a nose that can take on double teams -- that's a thousand pounds -- and make it look easy, shed blocks, make it hard for those running backs to get out of the backfield, it's hell for those guards and center," Mack said.
"Just having a guy like that back is huge."
Goldman reported to the Bears in what Nagy said was good shape. He trained locally near Halas Hall before joining the team for training camp.
After struggling being away from the Bears, Goldman has just one regret.
"That my teammates went to battle without me," Goldman said.
Extra point
Veteran tight end Jake Butt, whom the Bears signed on June 18, has retired. The 26-year-old Butt has suffered three torn ACLs during his football career. Chicago on Tuesday officially signed tight end Jesse James, presumably to fill the roster spot of Butt.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
