As bad as the public silence about Kyler Gordon has been, the Chicago Bears seem to be having even worse conversations about him behind the scenes.
Gordon remains on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list for the Bears as their fourth week of training camp draws to a close, still ailing from the calf injury that has kept him on the sideline since before the start of the offseason program in the spring.
Throughout his absence, the Bears have been brief and blunt when talking about his situation, particularly in terms of when they expect the 26-year-old back on the field.
“Unknown,” Bears head coach Ben Johnson said of Gordon’s timeline on August 15.
According to longtime Chicago radio host Matt Spiegel, though, the tension between the Bears and Gordon is more than just an overreaction to their terse public comments.
“I had some of this info weeks ago, and now it’s become a little more obvious and trickling out,” Spiegel said August 21 on Fox 32 Chicago. “There’s like a standoff here where they think Kyler should be further along [in his recovery] than he is. And there is a legit question going on from the coaches’ perspective: ‘Does he really want to play? Does he really want to battle through it?’ And that’s some scary stuff.”
Kyler Gordon’s Situation Draws Nate Davis Comparison
The Bears have not confirmed a “standoff” in the manner that Spiegel is describing, but there is no denying that frustrations inside the building have seeped out into the media.
Johnson has kept his answers direct and unassuming when peppered with questions about Gordon, taking none of his openings to speak positively about how his corner has been progressing or participating behind the scenes. The most encouraging thing that he has said throughout has been: “There’s a plan, and he’s working toward that plan.”
If the Bears are truly doubting Gordon’s efforts to work through his injury and get back on the field, though, it won’t be long before he draws heaps of Nate Davis comparisons.
“It is veering toward the Nate Davis situation with the ping-pong tables from a couple years ago,” Spiegel said Friday. “It is feeling like that, and the pressure is on.”
Davis — the Bears’ former $30 million right guard investment — faced similar scrutiny for his injuries and long-term absences during his short tenure in Chicago. Questions ran rampant about his lack of effort before the Bears eventually lost patience and cut bait just five games into his second season on their roster. Davis hasn’t played since.
Gordon can still avoid a similar outcome with the Bears, but time is running out.
“It’s a really interesting standoff, and it’s bad news for this defense.”
Bears Lack Much Control in Kyler Gordon Situation
Unfortunately for the Bears, there isn’t much they can do in this predicament.
Gordon is only just entering the first year of the three-year, $40 million contract that he signed in April 2024. If the Bears tried to cut him now, they would incur an immediate $22.5 million dead-cap charge and lose roughly $9.6 million in cap space for the 2026 season — which is about $5 million more than they currently have available.
The Bears can make moves to find another defender to play the nickel in Gordon’s place while he is out with an injury. They could even leave that player — perhaps rookie Malik Muhammad — in the position once Gordon is healthy again if he plays well enough.
Unless the situation has burned all bridges, though, the Bears are still likely to play him when he is healthy and ramped up again. They made him the highest-paid slot corner in the league for a reason and are a better defense when he is available and committed.
The path to moving on from Gordon opens up much more in 2027. But for now, for the 2026 season, the Bears can do little more than wait and get their backup plans in order.
Bears Locked in ‘Standoff’ With Kyler Gordon as Absence Continues