It started almost a year ago. Kyler Gordon began experiencing some soft tissue problems that would linger into the regular season.
Before we knew it, the Chicago Bears were without their stud slot cornerback for almost the entire year -- and due to more than one soft tissue injury. At first, fans weren't too worried. But, when these injuries started to compile, the angst only grew.
Fast forward to present day and we still don't know when we're going to see Gordon practice in full. As of right now, in this moment, the Bears still don't have their starting nickel. And, when training camp begins, it'll have been almost a full year since these injuries began.
So, where do the Bears turn? What happens if Gordon is never the same? What if he is unable to get back on the field anytime soon or if these injuries have truly altered the course of his career?
Enter: Josh Blackwell.
Josh Blackwell might have to save the Bears from their Kyler Gordon situation
The hero of that fourth quarter onside kick against the Green Bay Packers and a guy who has shown up in so many different ways throughout the course of his four years in Chicago -- that guy -- might end up being the Bears' only hope here.
Let's back up just a minute, because there's a possibility of Chicago trying to play rookie fourth-round pick Malik Muhammad in the slot, where he did take some snaps in college. But, Muhammad could also project best as the future outside replacement for Tyrique Stevenson.
Former Buffalo Bill and free agent signing Cam Lewis might be an option as well, but the familiarity with Blackwell could make for a logical solution.
Blackwell has been a mainstay in Chicago for four years now, and Bears fans have learned to love him for so many different reasons. His versatility is a huge reason why he's become an integral part of this team.
For the most part, he is a special teams player, and special teams only. That's where he shows up week after week. He's the playmaker for that unit.
But, he is still a cornerback and has experience both on the outside and in the slot. Even though he is a somewhat-forgotten man in that cornerback room, he's there, and he's still capable. In a pinch, the Bears have used him when injuries mount, and he truly hasn't been a bad option.
Over the course of his career, Blackwell has taken 159 coverage snaps out of a total of 219 snaps from the slot -- yes, again, it's a small sample size.
But, in those 159 snaps, he has never allowed a touchdown and picked off one pass. He's also ended with a positive PFF grade (above 60.0) in three of four seasons. On the remaining snaps from the slot, Blackwell came up with four quarterback pressures. So, he's got a little Kyler Gordon flavor to him.
It would be tougher on Blackwell to be counted on as the special teams ace along with manning the slot, but if worse came to worse, he would give this Bears defense some continuity at the very least.
Counting on a new face like Muhammad or Lewis certainly has its risks, and again, Muhammad feels much more like a Stevenson replacement. But, training camp and time will tell at this stage.
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The one thing we do know is that Blackwell is simply a good football player, and that has to count for something.
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