Bears are expected to play the long game when it comes to two standout players returning before the biggest game of the year
Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon are not expected suit up on Sunday.
The Chicago Bears keep getting the bad news piled on leading up to Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on the defensive side of the ball.
First, the Bears ruled out three of the team’s top linebackers in Tremaine Edmunds, T.J. Edwards, and Noah Sewell. Recent news hints that Edmunds might even get placed on the injured reserve, which would knock him out for at least four games.
On Friday’s injury report, the Bears listed standout cornerback Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon as questionable after being full participants in practice. Both players were working their way back off the injured reserve but now it seems like we will have to wait until next week for their return.
Bears eyeing matchup vs. Eagles as the return game for Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon
“Bears defensive backs Kyler Gordon and Jaylon Johnson – both questionable for Sunday vs. Pittsburgh – won’t be activated this week, per sources,” NFL insider Jeremy Fowler posted on X. “But the team is hopeful that both could come off IR for next week against Philly if all goes well.”
Johnson has been out of action since Week 2 with a groin injury that also forced him to miss the entirety of training camp. Gordon initially dealt with a hamstring injury that forced him to miss the first four games and lately has been out with a calf injury.
“We clearly want them back,” Bears coach Ben Johnson said. “They’re really good players that will certainly help us out, but I think the guys in their stead, they’ve been doing a heck of a job.”
Playing it smart is the best thing for the Bears and these two players considering their injuries and the fact they just started getting back on the grass. It makes sense both players would be held out on Sunday considering the team has a quick turnaround with a trip to Philadelphia coming up on Friday.
“We have a plan in place,” Johnson added. “It’s something that we have a lot of trust in support staff. Between the training room and then our sport science department, we’ll make sure that we’re acclimating them properly. The last thing we want to do is put a player in a spot where he could potentially hurt himself again. So we’ll be very smart about that. At that same time, I know they want to be out there and they’re pushing hard to be game ready, whether that’s this week or not. But we’re doing all of our due diligence to make sure we’re smart about it.”
The upcoming game against the Eagles will be a big one, perhaps the biggest game of the season. Not only will the Bears get an opportunity to prove themselves against the defending champs, it could also have some major NFC playoff implications. The Bears are smart to make sure they’re as close to full strength as possible for that game.
Chicago Bears News
Bad news officially gets even worse for one of the Bears’ top defenders ahead of a crucial stretch
LB Tremaine Edmunds is headed to the injured reserve.
