When Chicago Bears defensive back Kyler Gordon started the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list, there were questions about whether he would suit up for the team again. Gordon left the team during the season for a few weeks to rehab with his personal team. Now, he is back and expected to return to the football field.
The Chicago Bears opened the 21-day practice window for Gordon. This will allow him to practice with the team for the next three weeks before they decide to activate him.
Chicago Bears get positive injury news on Kyler Gordon
Gordon can now return at any time in the next three weeks. If the Bears do not activate him within the next 21 days, they will have to place him on the season-ending IR. It seems unlikely they would start the window now if they did not think he would return soon.
In most case scenarios, the team will give the player a week to shake off the rust and get back into practice. By the second week, they should be ready to return. The third week is just in case they hit a bump in the road.
So, Gordon is unlikely to play in the Bears' Week 4 game against the New York Jets. However, they will expect him to be back for Week 5 against the Green Bay Packers. That is quite the game for him to return for.
The decision could come at the perfect time as well. Rookie fourth-round pick Malik Muhammad started the season in the slot. However, when Tyrique Stevenson was injured and missed Week 3, the team pushed Muhammad to the outside.
Muhammad handled himself well, and this is where he played in college. So, the team felt the need to keep him on the outside. They played Cam Lewis in the slot, but he started at safety in the first two weeks. They have Xavier Woods at safety, but it gets thin with all three on the field.
With Gordon back, they can shift Lewis into more of a versatile threat. It also takes pressure off Woods as a starter.
Still, it is not a sure thing that he returns. Even if he does, this will likely still be his last year with the team. The Bears can save $8M by letting him go this offseason. Still, if they can get more than 10 games out of him in his last year, it would be a huge win.
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