The first notable move of training camp each year for an NFL team, if appropriate, is placing players on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. Of course, it always spurs overreaction from fans, since players can come off the list at any time during camp.
The Chicago Bears placed five players on the PUP list heading into this year's training camp. There was immediate positive news: linebacker T.J. Edwards and offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo landing on the list was no surprise. Linebacker Noah Sewell and defensive lineman Shemar Turner, coming off surgeries, don't seem to have any big concerns attached to them.
But the fifth player, cornerback Kyler Gordon, turned heads. He hardly participated in OTAs after missing all but five games last season (counting the playoffs), and general manager Ryan Poles said Gordon is currently dealing with a calf issue.
"He was here all offseason training, getting right. We had a delay in that. All hands on deck to get him back," Poles said, speaking of Gordon. "Coach alluded to it before in terms of his availability, or the lack thereof. Obviously, he's frustrated. We're frustrated. We just want him back. He helps our football team. We have to move forward with the guys we have and when he's ready to go, he'll be ready to go. Everybody here is putting all their time and effort into getting him back right. So that's where that's at."
Poles was asked about a timeline for Gordon's return. He did not have one, as expected, but said "when he gets back, we need him to stay back." Answering the next question about Gordon, Poles elaborated further.
"(It's) a little bit of a repetitive situation that we've got to get fixed," Poles said. "And then when he gets back, he's going to have to earn that trust back and that dependability. Because we've got to put all the guys in a good position to be successful, and the up-and-down moving guys around is really tough. So, he'll have to earn that back when he gets back."
During his own comments Tuesday, head coach Ben Johnson was asked what his message to Gordon has been. The message couldn't be more direct.
"Get healthy," Johnson said.
Bears might be stuck with Kyler Gordon longer than they want
The Bears made Gordon the highest-paid slot corner in the NFL with a three-year, $40 million contract extension in April of 2025. The deal kicks in this year, and things obviously aren't off to a great start. Poles and Johnson have not been able to hide their frustrations.
It's nice when our primary sources for contract details and implications are perfectly aligned, but in Gordon's case, they aren't.
According to Over The Cap, Gordon's $10 million base salary for 2027 became fully guaranteed on March 13 of this year. With that, even a post-June 1 cut in 2027 would leave behind a $12.5 million dead money hit with just $800,000 in cap savings.
According to Spotrac, Gordon's $10 million base salary for 2027 doesn't become fully guaranteed until the third day of the next league year. If that's the case, cutting or trading him before June 1 can clear $8.3 million of his $13.3 million cap hit off the books, with the remaining $5 million in dead money.
In Spotrac's timeline for Gordon's 2027 salary to become fully guaranteed, a post-June 1 cut would split the $5 million in dead money between 2027 and 2028, and $10.8 million in cap space would be created.
Both sources show that cap savings and dead money division for a post-June 1, 2027 trade, since the date of the base salary becoming fully guaranteed would become irrelevant.
Of course, trade scenarios are more favorable for the Bears, especially compared to the direness of Over The Cap's cut scenarios. But who would trade for an injury-prone cornerback who might've missed a big chunk of two straight seasons by the time next offseason comes?
At this point, it's basically a foregone conclusion that Gordon will not get the final year of his contract (2028) in a Bears uniform. The ship has sailed on doing anything this year, other than hoping he is at least somewhat healthy.
Read more: Bears urged to add a player who would be overkill for current projected role
So it'll come down to how 2027 can be navigated. The way things are going, hopefully Spotrac's details are correct about when his 2027 base salary becomes fully guaranteed. The Bears might cut bait regardless if it gets to that point, just to get rid of a headache and put a contract mistake behind them.
Add us as a preferred source on Google