Chicago Bears slot cornerback Kyler Gordon will now spend time away from the team as he recovers from a calf injury that has kept him out all offseason. NFL Insider Ian Rapoport noted that the decision is optimistic news for both sides.
Gordon gets to accelerate his recovery with a familiar trainer, and the team gets Gordon back faster. However, it is easy to meet the report with just as much side eye as trust.
Chicago Bears Get Murky Update on Kyler Gordon
Gordon is already set to miss the first six weeks of the season. However, Gordon working away from the team does not signal trust in him with the ability of the staff. Bears General Manager Ryan Poles made it clear that when Gordon returns is mostly up to Gordon.
It is about him being able to trust himself and play through the recovery. So, from the team angle it looks like they do not know where to turn or what to do, so they are letting him work on his own.
It might be a win for both sides in a different manner. Chicago might get Gordon out of their hair. They do not have to put more resources into a recovery plan that he does not trust. They can move forward as if he is not on the roster. Then, they can move on from him after the season.
For Gordon, he can get healthy on his own timeline with the trainers he trusts. If he is back this year, the team would welcome him. If not, he can be assured that he will enter free agency healthy for whatever team wants to sign him next offseason.
That is starting to look like the more likely path than Gordon leaving for a few weeks, returning, and then being healthy for the team.
Even if Gordon does return, the Bears are going to cut him after the season. They can save $8.3M against the salary cap by moving on. The Bears currently have Cam Lewis competing with rookie Malik Muhammad in the slot.
If both are struggling and Gordon comes back, they could play him. However, if Muhammad is starting to take over the role, the team would lean into letting the rookie finish out the year anyway.
The Gordon news is significant and not very meaningful at the same time. We will see if he does return in six weeks.
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