Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson has steadfastly declined to debate Kyler Gordon this summer time, and on Tuesday morning — 12 days earlier than the first recreation — normal supervisor Ryan Poles could not commit with any certainty to the nickel cornerback taking part in this season.
Gordon is on the reserve/bodily unable to carry out checklist, and the staff stated when coaching camp started in July that he’s coping with a calf damage. Poles praised at size the athletic coaching and efficiency staffs for serving to different gamers work their means again from critical accidents.
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And then there’s the Gordon state of affairs, which is as complicated for the fan base as it’s irritating for Poles and the Bears, who signed the former second-round draft decide to a three-year, $40 million contract extension in April 2025, three months after Johnson was employed.
Gordon has performed in solely 5 video games since — three in the common season and each playoff video games final yr — and it is value questioning if the staff might need lower him over the weekend if it weren’t for the tough salary-cap circumstances that might have prompted.
Gordon has a $12.91 million cap quantity for this season and a $10 million assured base wage. If the Bears lower him, his cap hit would balloon to $22.5 million and power the staff to clear house simply to launch him.
“I don’t know,” Poles stated Tuesday when requested if Gordon will play this yr. “I hope so. I still have hope there. He’s going to have to continue to work hard and get back to playing football again.”
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It’s obscure how soft-tissue accidents that initially cropped up virtually 13 months in the past proceed to be debilitating, particularly if there was “hard work” to return all alongside. The state of affairs has baffled teammates, who’re in the darkish on Gordon’s standing.
Gordon’s prolonged absence — he wasn’t on the subject throughout the offseason program this spring — has raised questions each inside the constructing and externally about his want to play.
“I really can’t,” Poles stated when pressed for specifics. “When people come back from injuries, there’s different things that happen. Sometimes they return fast, sometimes they’re slow. So it’s really a timing thing and healing thing and confidence thing.
“So I actually do not (know). I want I did, however we’ll see.”
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Left tackle Ozzy Trapilo is on the 53-man roster after suffering a torn patellar tendon in January and undergoing surgery. It’s possible he’ll be playing in regular-season games before Gordon is even on the practice field.
“I do wish to give a shout-out to our return-to-play protocol people,” Poles said. “(Senior director of sports activities medication and participant well being) Andre Tucker, (director of excessive efficiency) Brent Salazar, (head of energy and conditioning) Pierre (Ngo), they’ve carried out an unbelievable job.
“I don’t think I’ve had a moment to talk since Ozzy’s comeback, but there’s been plenty of guys that have come back this year that their hard work, along with our players’ hard work, has allowed them to come back and become football players again and be able to help our team and help our depth.
“And they’ve carried out a wonderful job, and that group — it is particular. They care lots. So to see success like that has been actually good.”
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PUP rules dictate that Gordon will be sidelined for at least the first four games. The Bears have used rookie fourth-round pick Malik Muhammad II and veteran Cam Lewis in the slot since safety Coby Bryant was lost to a left knee injury. Lewis is also a potential starter at safety.
Poles cited strategic cover while preparing for the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 13 in not wanting to say who will play where. Lewis and veteran newcomer Xavier Woods are options at safety in a situation with three players to pick from for two positions.
Whichever direction the Bears go, they won’t have the dynamic, versatile performer that Gordon has been when healthy.
After listening to Poles, it’s possible Gordon won’t be back at all. Maybe there’s a breakthrough at some point, and no one is ruling that out. But the Bears have been unable to provide evidence for optimism for a player who opened camp in what the team called a “delay.”
“I haven’t got a timetable,” Poles stated.