The Chicago Bears made several moves on the defensive side of the ball this offseason. New additions to the secondary, like Coby Bryant and Dillon Thieneman, are joining the mix.
Despite the new pieces in the fold, cornerback Kyler Gordon will be in the limelight this summer during training camp. And after an injury-plagued season in 2025, he will need to bring his best foot forward this summer.
Kyler Gordon has the most to prove with Bears training camp set to begin
Back in April 2025, Chicago and Gordon agreed on a three-year, $40 million extension. That contract featured $31.25 million guaranteed and made him the highest-paid slot corner, making $13.3 million annually.
Despite getting support from the organization, he wasn't able to stay healthy, suiting up in just three games for the Bears last year. He dealt with multiple lower-leg soft-tissue injuries that forced him to land on the IR twice. The injuries included hamstring, calf, and groin problems.
Even though he had several months to recover, these injuries carried over to spring workouts. Gordon wasn't with the team when the team was on the field in May. This is just the latest example of how he hasn't been able to get on the field.
And back in December, head coach Ben Johnson was let down with how the year went for the cornerback after he landed on IR for the second time.
"It’s disappointing. I wish I had a better feel for the individual, but with him being out as much as he has, I haven’t really gotten to see him on the field and competing to get to know him like I’d like to.”
These comments clearly show how underwhelmed Johnson was by the way Gordon's season unfolded. While general manager Ryan Poles was the one who gave Gordon that new deal, Johnson was arguably the biggest voice in the building, so his opinion of Gordon carries weight.
And Johnson's comments from the spring display that the Washington product needs to earn the trust of the coaching staff.
"This spring was going to be a springboard for us to get going in the right direction. So, you know, we're still working through that. We're still trying to get that availability piece going. We know he's a good player when he's out there, but trust level is a huge thing for this team, for this coaching staff, for the locker room, and you can only develop that trust by being available," Johnson said.
With camp kicking off in a couple of weeks, having Gordon out there, healthy and making plays, will go a long way. If he struggles to stay on the field this summer, it will have a negative ripple effect on him.
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The 26-year-old has been productive for Chicago over his tenure. In 45 games, he's finished with 214 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 17 pass deflections, and five interceptions. Despite the positive signs, health has always been a problem, as he's never played all 17 games in a season. 15 games is his highest mark, and being available should be his No. 1 priority.
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