The Chicago Bears have taken the first step toward getting slot cornerback Kyler Gordon back on the field ahead of Week 12’s game with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Prior to Wednesday’s practice, the Bears officially designated Gordon for return from the injured reserve list, opening his 21-day practice window and setting the stage for him to potentially return to the field for Sunday’s home kickoff against the Steelers.
Gordon landed on injured reserve on October 25 ahead of the Bears’ matchup with the Baltimore Ravens after popping up midweek on the injury report with groin and calf injuries. He also missed the first four games of the season with a hamstring issue.
While Gordon has a few more hurdles to clear before the Bears activate him to the 53-man roster, his return to practice starts the clock on Chicago’s defense regaining one of its most talented players. He could potentially even return in time to play against the Steelers on Sunday, depending on how much he practices throughout the week.
The Bears (7-3) will face off against the Steelers (6-4) at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Bears Also Inching Toward Jaylon Johnson’s Return
Gordon’s return to practice is a positive development for the Bears’ defense, but he is not the only cornerback trying to earn activation back to the team’s 53-man roster.
Jaylon Johnson, a two-time Pro Bowler, is also working his way back from IR after he underwent core-muscle surgery in September. The Bears designated him for return last week ahead of Week 11’s game at the Minnesota Vikings and listed him as questionable to play in the matchup after Friday’s practice before downgrading him on Saturday.
That Johnson was ruled questionable at all is an encouraging sign for his return. The Bears may want to give him the full length of his 21-day practice window to ensure that his conditioning is where they want it, but Johnson is also one of their veteran leaders and may not need as much time as younger players, given his experience as a pro.
The Bears will have until Saturday afternoon to decide whether they want to activate Gordon or Johnson (or both) to the 53-man roster for Sunday’s game with the Steelers.
What Will Bears’ Secondary Look Like at Full Health?
Barring unforeseen circumstances or setbacks, the Bears should have both of their top two cornerbacks — Gordon and Johnson — back on the field in three weeks’ time, which could come at just the right time for them as they fight to qualify for the NFL playoffs.
How will the Bears’ secondary look when the team is at full strength again, though?
While Johnson and Gordon will most likely slide back into their normal roles, the Bears may shake things up either on the perimeter or in the deep field when both are back in the mix to avoid moving C.J. Gardner-Johnson — a recent addition — to the bench.
Gardner-Johnson has filled in nicely for Gordon in the nickel over the past three games, tallying 19 tackles, three sacks, four tackles for loss and one forced fumble in that span. That likely won’t be enough for the Bears to play him over the $40 million Gordon, but it could lead to a more regular rotation to keep players fresh, as they do on the D-line.
The Bears could also consider rotating Gardner-Johnson with strong safety Jaquan Brisker, who is playing for a new contract this season but has also experienced bouts of inconsistency in his coverage. An outright benching seems unnecessary, but the Bears could reduce his snap count if Dennis Allen feels that more Gardner-Johnson will help.
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