The Chicago Bears made the stunning decision on Wednesday to open the 21-day practice window for slot cornerback Kyler Gordon. Gordon returned to practice and was a full participant, an extremely positive step forward after what’s been a frustrating year.

Gordon has been sidelined for essentially the entire year due to a calf injury that he just couldn’t seem to get right. There was a clear disconnect between Gordon and the Bears with his recovery timeline, leading to Gordon training away from the facility and with his own personal trainers over the last month.

The message from the Bears was clear, don’t come back until you’re healthy. Finally, that time has come and the Bears are eager to start getting Gordon back into the fold with the rest of the defense that has caught fire the last two weeks.

Dennis Allen is eager to get Kyler Gordon back after extended absence

After Gordon was a full participant during his first day back at practice, it’s now a matter of when and not if he gets back on the field. Technically speaking, the earliest Gordon could return to play is Week 5 against the Green Bay Packers. Players on the PUP list are required to sit out for at least four games and Sunday’s game against the New York Jets will mark the final game Gordon will be required to miss.

From there, it all depends on how quickly Gordon can ramp back up into game shape over the next few days of practice.

“We did a little extra work with him yesterday and I thought he looked good,” Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said. “I thought the way he went out there and practiced was good to see. He moved around really well. The biggest thing is it just takes him a little bit of time to get into football shape… We’ll use whatever time we need to to evaluate where he’s at. Hopefully he’ll be ready sooner rather than later. I think he’s a player that can help us.”

The other big thing for Gordon is earning the trust back from the coaching staff in order to regain his starting spot. Head coach Ben Johnson made it clear that the Bears aren’t just going to hand his spot back upon returning without him earning it. But, Allen has always been a fan of his game.

“I’ve got extreme confidence in what he can do when he’s out there on the field,” Allen added. “And that’s never wavered. I think as we all know, the biggest thing for Kyler is for him to be healthy and be able to stay healthy. And so that’s kind of where the focus is.”

Kyler Gordon’s eventual return will give Dennis Allen plenty of versatility to work with

Once Gordon is back, Allen’s defense will have plenty of versatility to work with. When healthy, Gordon is one of the top slot defenders in the league and a player Allen has been excited to work with ever since arriving in Chicago.

“I think Kyler is one of the best nickels in the game,” linebacker T.J. Edwards said before the season. “I think when he is on the field, he changes the game, and, you know, his ability to blitz, his ability to stop the run, his ability to cover when needed, play the pass, he does it all, right. I know he’s working his butt off, and I talk to him every single day. Man, he’s just itching to get out there, so we’ll be ready when he gets back. We know who he is when he is on the field.”

In Gordon’s place, the Bears have gotten strong returns from rookie Malik Muhammad II. Muhammad has recorded two QB hits and a sack as a pass rusher along with an interception while allowing a 46.9 passer rating on 16 targets.

“He’s a sticky player. He continues to get better every single game, every single practice,” Johnson said of Muhammad. “I think we’re really pleased through three games where he’s at, being able to contribute to our defense and our team in general. He’s a competitor and we really like where he’s at right now. He’s on an upward trajectory.”

When Gordon returns to his former position, the Bears can move Muhammad back outside (where he traditionally played in college) while having Jaylon Johnson at the opposite cornerback spot. That trio would give the Bears a strong secondary paired with Dillon Thieneman and Xavier Woods at safety while having Tyrique Stevenson and Cam Lewis as options to rotate in.