Bears could answer a major training camp question by capitalizing on another team’s mistake involving a former Chicago defender
The Chicago Bears have a big question mark surrounding slot cornerback Kyler Gordon and if the issue continues to linger, the Bears could luck out and reunite with another former defender.
The Chicago Bears have some big questions going into training camp later this month and one of the biggest ones involves the injury status of nickel cornerback Kyler Gordon.
Gordon missed 14 games for the Bears last season due to multiple soft tissue injuries and continued to be sidelined throughout the offseason program. Whether or not he’s cleared for training camp remains to be seen, but the Bears are certainly losing patience already.
“We spoke last year and neither one of us were really happy with how it went just from a perspective of being available to get to know each other,” head coach Ben Johnson said of Gordon. “…This spring was going to be a springboard for us to get going in the right direction. We’re still working through that. We’re still trying to get that availability piece going. We know he’s a good player when he’s out there, but trust level is a huge thing for this team, for this coaching staff, for the locker room. And you can only develop that trust by being available.”
Gordon wasn’t the only absence. Bears rookie cornerback Malik Muhammad missed some time as well during the offseason program but was back out there at the end of minicamp. If the Bears want to be proactive at that position and avoid any fall off, the front office should start looking toward other options. And no, I’m not talking about Kenny Moore II.
Cowboys could provide the perfect opportunity for the Bears at nickel without spending a dime
One option the Bears should pay close attention to is Dallas Cowboys nickel Reddy Steward. Bears fans might remember the former UDFA from the 2024 preseason, and the two interception game he had against the Kansas City Chiefs. Steward spent the 2024 season on Chicago’s practice squad and only played in one game during the regular season.
In 2025, Steward eventually found his way to the Dallas Cowboys, reuniting with former Bears head coach and then Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus. Steward started five of 17 games played for Dallas recording 63 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and three pass deflections while allowing zero touchdowns in coverage. The one concerning part of his game was his 11 missed tackles.
And now, with Eberflus out of the building, Steward is reportedly on the roster bubble according to our A to Z Sports Dallas writer Mauricio Rodriguez.
“With first-round pick Caleb Downs expected to take the starting nickel role early, Steward’s path to a roster spot narrows considerably,” Rodriguez wrote. “Cobie Durant was training at nickel during the offseason program in addition to outside cornerback. Caelen Carson took first-team reps with Daron Bland out with an injury, suggesting he’s higher on the depth chart than many assumed. Shavon Revel Jr. is going to make the team. Devin Moore, a fourth-round pick, is also a lock. Steward is fighting for the fifth or sixth cornerback spot on the roster.”
Reddy Steward wouldn’t be the first Matt Eberflus-guy the Bears bring back
For those thinking “Reddy Steward was a Matt Eberflus-guy, why would Dennis Allen want him?” I understand where you’re coming from. However, it’s also worth noting that the Bears already reunited with one former UDFA defender that followed Eberflus to Dallas in linebacker Jack Sanborn.
If the Cowboys make the mistake of cutting Steward at the end of camp, the Bears should really consider putting in a claim for him as a backup nickel to Gordon. But, that first depends on if Gordon is out there, along with how the team’s other depth options look in the slot.