The drama surrounding cornerback Kyler Gordon never seemed to ebb. It’s incredible to see how fast the young man went from defensive cornerstone to persona non grata. The Chicago Bears left him on the PUP list to start the season, meaning he would miss the first four games. However, league rules permit him to return to practice this week to start ramping up for a return. Three such players have reached that junction, with Shemar Turner and Noah Sewell joining Gordon. He was the only one who didn’t show up.
Head coach Ben Johnson was asked for an update on why this is the case. Gordon has been releasing workout videos in the past couple of weeks. One would think that is a sign he is nearing a return. Johnson’s reply was both short and icy.
There have been signs for much of the past month that top decision-makers inside Halas Hall aren’t happy with Gordon. They haven’t said it outright, but it isn’t hard to read between the lines. Few have made that clearer than Johnson, who seems tired of answering questions about the cornerback. He has no time for players he doesn’t trust. Gordon has played 5 games since he took over as head coach. Why should he spare any time for someone who doesn’t play, and he didn’t help draft?
Kyler Gordon may have already lost his job.
While he’s been taking the scenic route in his recovery, someone else has been establishing himself as a legitimate player. No Bears defender has had a better first two weeks of the season than rookie cornerback Malik Muhammad. The 4th round pick was thrust into the nickel role once it was clear Gordon wasn’t returning. After a shaky first few weeks, he seemed to grow into it with remarkable speed. This culminated with him collecting an interception against Carolina and a sack against Minnesota. He has been targeted 11 times, allowing just 5 catches for 47 yards and a 27.5 passer rating.
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So one must ask the question. Do the Bears have any obligation at this point to give Kyler Gordon his job back when he does return? The guy hasn’t played good football since 2024, and even then, he was dealing with constant health problems. It’s already been said, but there is a strong likelihood Gordon would’ve been cut if not for the cap penalties his contract would’ve brought. At the very least, Johnson is not required to accommodate the cornerback in any meaningful way aside from being a member of the roster.
This is probably the last season for him in Chicago.
It would be one thing if Gordon were present in the facility and working tirelessly to get back. That has not been the case throughout this entire process. He’s stayed away from the team, entrusting his health to a supposed specialist named Montel Fleming, who has a questionable background, to say the least. There is clearly a disconnect between player and team. Unless the bridge is somehow re-established soon, it feels like a growing likelihood that Gordon will never play another down for the Bears.
We saw the same thing happen to Nate Davis a couple of years ago. He always seemed to have health problems that kept him off the field. Eventually, the Bears cut him, and he quietly faded out of the league within a matter of months. Those same warning signs are popping up with Gordon. Hopefully that isn’t the case. One thing is certain. The Bears aren’t waiting for him anymore.
