The biggest knock on Kyler Gordon over four NFL seasons has been his inability to stay healthy. While we are not fully into the team portions of OTAs, the early reports this summer are that injury questions will be the story for Gordon again in 2026. Brad Biggs notes that Gordon is currently being treated for a soft tissue injury.
Chicago Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon has another minor injury this offseason
When Gordon is on the field, he is one of the premier slot cornerbacks in the NFL. The problem is that his availability is starting to become a recurring concern. Gordon has appeared in 45 games over the course of his career, but that means that he has been inactive for 23 games. Missing about one-third of your career due to injury is notable.
The Bears are going to be in an interesting spot with Gordon coming up after this season. He is signed through 2028, but the Bears could release him or trade him as soon as this offseason, and they would save $8.3M on the salary cap.
The biggest sticking point could be Ben Johnson and Dennis Allen, who inherited Gordon and his contract. Gordon only played three games last year, and Johnson seemed annoyed at how often Gordon would miss time due to soft tissue injuries. Gordon might not fit into the new culture, and it could lead to the team being ready to move on after this year.
More than that, the Bears drafted Malik Muhammad in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Muhammad played outside in Texas, but he is undersized, and teams do not trust him on the outside, which is why he fell.
Muhammad has already been working in the slot at rookie OTAs, and with Gordon out, he can compete with Josh Blackwell to get work with the first team. The best thing for Muhammad would be to soak up all of the offseason work he can get and then sit his rookie season, or at least a portion of it behind Gordon.
Then, this offseason, the Bears would move on from Gordon, and Muhammad would get the chance to start. Of course, if Gordon cannot stay healthy, it might be Muhammad stepping into the lineup earlier than expected. That would make the team releasing Gordon next offseason much easier as well. A lot will hinge on his health.
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