When you're dealing with injuries, and it's only May and June, there is some semblance of positivity you can get by with. But when a team is dealing with particular injuries that have carried over from the previous season, it brings a new level of concern.
As the Chicago Bears wrapped up OTAs this week, one particular player was still not participating.
Slot cornerback Kyler Gordon has yet to participate in team drills this offseason and has only been spotted earlier in the offseason doing some light individual work.
Gordon has dealt with multiple soft tissue injuries that have affected his groin, calf, and hamstring. Last season, Gordon was only able to suit up for three games in total. As OTAs concluded, Gordon was still not out there.
Now with six weeks or so before training camp, there are no answers when it comes to Gordon's future.
Kyler Gordon's injury issues could force the Chicago Bears to re-think their secondary in training camp
Head coach Ben Johnson has sounded both frustrated and uncertain when speaking on Gordon's injury. Just a few days ago, Johnson talked about Gordon with the Bears media:
"We spoke last year and neither one of us were really happy with how it went just from a perspective of being available to get to know each other," Johnson said. "I think he only played in three games when I look back at it, and so, you know, this spring was going to be a springboard for us to get going in the right direction."
At this point, there is absolutely zero confidence that Gordon will be available to practice in training camp. To think six more weeks will allow him to be back on the field doing what he does at a high level feels awfully like a pipe dream.
What are the Bears going to do if Gordon is unable to practice? What happens if these injury issues never really go away?
This coming season, the Bears are going to bank on Jaylon Johnson and Tyrique Stevenson playing outside cornerback, of course. The team drafted Malik Muhammad as someone who could take over for Stevenson in 2027 when the Bears ultimately let him go via free agency.
But could Muhammad be the guy to step over and play slot in the absence of Gordon? His physical traits are good enough, but the Bears would have to start that process in training camp and get him up to speed at the nickel quickly.
Chicago also has Josh Blackwell, of course, who has been a Swiss Army Knife of sorts and a special teams standout. The Bears then have Cam Lewis, who signed after playing for the Buffalo Bills. Still, their best chance at addressing this problem could be to get Muhammad acclimated to the slot.
Read more: Ben Johnson gave a telling health update on Bears WR Rome Odunze
Along with Gordon, the Bears still haven't seen Shemar Turner, who is continuing to recover from a torn ACL in his rookie year. Turner was supposed to be part of their pass rush plan, and still can be, but he'll need to get on the field for camp.
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