Bears add CB Kyler Gordon to the Week 1 injury report with a setback that brings more concerns to the secondary
Tough news to get on Sunday.
The Chicago Bears got some bad news on Sunday before the Week 1 slate kicked off on the injury front leading up to the Monday night matchup with the Minnesota Vikings.
Starting nickel cornerback Kyler Gordon was added to the final injury report with a hamstring injury and is now questionable for the regular season opener.
Gordon dealt with a hamstring issue throughout camp but returned to practice two weeks ago. He was not listed on Thursday’s injury report, a sign he had fully recovered before this setback popped back up.
Concerns starting to pile up in the secondary for Week 1
Along with Gordon, Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson is listed as questionable with a calf/groin injury. Johnson returned to practice for the first time earlier this week in hopes of ramping up in time for Monday’s game after missing the entirety of training camp.
Being without Johnson and Gordon would be major news for the entire defense. Johnson ideally would be tasked with defending Vikings top wide receiver Justin Jefferson and Gordon was set to be defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s top chess piece.
“If I need to be able to switch to outside (cornerback), free safety, strong safety. Having that ability is really fun,” Gordon said back in July. “And for me, I just think it’s finding my next step and my level in my own game to be able to do anything and everything. So that’s just exciting.”
Johnson and Gordon aren’t the only defensive backs on the final injury report. Josh Blackwell, the team’s standout special teamer and backup nickel, is listed as questionable as well with a groin injury. The next option at the nickel position would be Nick McCloud, who played in the slot throughout the preseason for the Bears defense.
“Here’s a guy, who in the spring, I wasn’t sure exactly what he was going to be,” Allen said of McCloud in July. “But, he’s come back in great shape. He understands the defense. He’s doing all the things that [defensive backs coach Al Harris] is coaching him to do, which is allowing him to be successful.”
As for the outside cornerback position, even if Johnson is good to go, expect to see Tyrique Stevenson and Nahshon Wright get some significant playing time in Week 1. Stevenson and Wright were the team’s top outside options throughout camp while Johnson was sidelined due to his injury.
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They’re going to have to step up on Monday Night.
