From the start this season, the Chicago Bears' defense has impacted by injuries. The work defensive coordinator Dennis Allen and his staff have done to navigate multiple key absences has been quite good, with a league-best 31 takeaways to cover for allowing a lot of yards at times.
In four of their last six games, with some key defensive players returning from injury, the Bears have allowed 17 or fewer points. "Bend but don't break" isn't the most ideal defensive mode, but the bottom line is to limit points, and the Bears have been getting it done there as they now prepare for the playoffs after their Week 16 win over the Green Bay Packers (with an assist from Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers).
Ben Johnson offers update on one last Bears' defender who could come back from injury
During his virtual meeting with the media on Monday, Johnson how the Bears' defense can be at it's most ready for the playoffs as key pieces continue to return to action.
"We are getting healthier and healthier", Johnson said. "It was good to get Tremaine (Edmunds) back (against the Packers), he was knocking off a little bit of rust...Jaylon (Johnson) keeps getting better each week. Grady (Jarrett)'s a guy whose played some really good football over the last month. You can feel the health starting to return to us. It'd be great to get Kyler (Gordon) back, potentially, in the postseason as well."
Johnson was then asked if Gordon's return for the playoffs was realistic.
"We'll see where it's going...He'll be down for four weeks, and we'll kinda assess it as we go here. We're always hopeful of that."
Gordon missed a significant portion of training camp and the first four games of the season with a hamstring injury. Then he suffered calf and groin injuries heading into Week 8 against the Baltimore Ravens, which led to his placement on IR.
After returning to play in Week 13 against the Philadelphia Eagles, Gordon suffered a groin injury during pregame warmups before the Week 14 game against the Packers. He landed on IR again, and he will be eligible to return for the Bears' first playoff game after missing the final four regular season games.
Read more: DJ Moore gives all the credit to two people for Bears' success this season
At this point, getting Gordon back in the fold would be a welcome bonus for the Bears, not something that should be counted on to happen after his litany of soft tissue injuries this season. But a positive, hopeful update from Johnson is definitely better than the alternative, and Gordon can be a difference maker for the secondary if he can get (and stay) on the field come playoff time.