After weeks of speculation and rumors, Kyler Gordon is finally back and practicing. The Bears opened his 21-day practice window, so it shouldn't be much longer before the slot specialist finally takes the field.
Nevertheless, things may have changed in the Windy City. He used to be a necessity for Dennis Allen's defense, but with rookie CB Malik Muhammad making a strong impact, that may no longer be the case.
That's why Gordon shouldn't just be given his job back. He must earn it every day in practice, and only if the Bears move Muhammad to the boundary. Otherwise, they should prioritize developing the rookie out of Texas.
The Bears have found a true star in Malik Muhammad
Muhammad slid through the cracks of the NFL Draft, and he's made scouts and general managers look foolish since training camp. The Bears have used him at nickelback and outside almost equally, and he's held his own in both spots.
He's a sturdy contributor against the running game, and he's made big plays in coverage. Defensive backs coach Al Harris has worked wonders with a young man who looked somewhat raw coming out of college.
Gordon used to be one of the best slot corners in the game. The Bears rewarded him with a big contract because of that, but he has been nothing short of a headache and a liability since he got his big contract.
He's been banged up more often than not, and there are no guarantees that he'll stay healthy when he gets back on the field. His contract situation makes him nearly unbenchable, but the Bears must keep rolling with the guys who are getting the job done right now.
This team entered the season with major doubts in the secondary. Even Jaylon Johnson, usually the team's most reliable cornerback, has struggled at times this season, all while the rookie has aced every test they've thrown this way thus far.
If Gordon is truly healthy, the Bears must bench Tyrique Stevenson, but not rolling with Muhammad should be off the table at this point. Better yet, they might try to drive up Gordon's trade value if he plays well, to finally get rid of his big contract and the never-ending health concerns.
He wouldn't be the first veteran to lose his job to a surging rookie, and he'll certainly won't be the last. But with the Bears' defense doing much better than expected, there's just no way to get Malik Muhammad off the field right now.
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