Bears Face Nickel Corner Crisis as Kyler Gordon Remains on PUP

The Chicago Bears entered training camp with rookie cornerback Kyler Gordon on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list while he rehabs a calf injury that kept him out of offseason workouts. Coach Ben Johnson’s directive to the player was simply “Get healthy.” General manager Ryan Poles described the situation as a “delay” in Gordon’s recovery and emphasized that the timetable for his return is still unknown. The Bears’ depth at nickel corner is thin; the team signed C.J. Gardner-Johnson last season to fill the role, but he has since departed for Buffalo, leaving only Josh Blackwell and rookie Malik Muhammad as potential replacements.

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Gordon was the Bears’ first draft pick in 2022 (second round) and earned the title of the NFL’s highest-paid nickel corner when he signed a three-year, $40 million extension in April 2025. Since that contract, he missed most of the 2025 training camp and was limited to five games after multiple stints on injured reserve last season. Over four seasons he has logged 214 tackles, five interceptions, 2.5 sacks, 17 passes defensed, five forced fumbles and two recoveries. The recurring injuries have sparked concerns about his dependability and the team’s ability to maintain a stable secondary.

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He added that once Gordon returns he must “stay back” and earn the trust of the coaching staff. Johnson’s brief two-word instruction underscores the urgency the coaching staff places on Gordon’s health.

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• Contract: three-year, $40 million extension (April 2025)

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• Career totals (four seasons): 214 tackles, 5 interceptions, 2.5 sacks, 17 passes defensed, 5 forced fumbles, 2 recoveries

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• Recent injuries: calf strain leading to PUP status; previous calf injury limited him to five games in 2025

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• “All hands on deck to get him back,” — Ryan Poles, general manager

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• “A little bit of a repetitive situation that we've got to get fixed,” — Ryan Poles, general manager

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• “He's got to get right, and I think the important thing that we've all talked about is when he gets back, we need him to stay back,” — Ryan Poles, general manager

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