The Chicago Bears finally have Kyler Gordon back on the practice field. They won't have him against the New York Jets in Week 4, but what happens after Sunday just got a lot more interesting.
Chicago opened Gordon's 21-day practice window Wednesday, allowing the veteran defensive back to practice for the first time since a calf injury sidelined him through training camp, the preseason, and the first three games of the regular season.
Gordon was listed as a full participant on Chicago's estimated Wednesday practice report.
It's a fantastic first step.
Kyler Gordon can't play in Week 4 against Jets
Gordon is still on the physically unable to perform list, and he's required to miss the Bears' first four games under the NFL's PUP rules.
It's why Sunday's Jets game isn't an option.
Gordon becomes eligible for activation Monday, which puts the Bears' Week 5 trip to Green Bay firmly in play.
The Bears now have three weeks to decide when Gordon is ready for the 53-man roster. His full participation Wednesday suggests that decision could come much sooner.
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Bears secondary has changed without Kyler Gordon
Gordon isn't returning to the same Bears' secondary that he once started in. Rookie Malik Muhammad has been forced into an expanded role, and veteran Cam Lewis has handled nickel responsibilities, though he appeared on Wednesday's estimated injury report as limited with a hip injury.
Tyrique Stevenson also returned from his hamstring injury Monday but played only four defensive snaps against Philadelphia in Week 3. Jaylon Johnson remains Chicago's CB1.
The return of Gordon will be a massive boost to a group that at one time appeared to be the deepest and most talented part of the defense.
Gordon could change Bears' options
When healthy, Gordon gives Chicago considerable positional flexibility. He has experience both outside and in the slot, and the Bears believe he is a long-term fixture in their defensive plans. His three-year, $40 million extension, signed in April 2025, proves that.
But injuries have become Gordon's defining problem.
He was limited to only three regular-season games last year before returning for Chicago's playoff games against Green Bay and Los Angeles. He then missed the entire summer with his latest calf problem.
That's why Wednesday's update is such a big deal. It's not because Gordon is automatically walking back into the same role he once had. Let's face it, Ben Johnson and Dennis Allen have to trust him again.
Instead, it's because he's finally healthy enough to compete and help make the Bears' defense better, in whatever capacity he plays.
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