Bears take first steps to get key two defenders back at practice, but Ben Johnson provides no updates on Kyler Gordon
The Chicago Bears have activated the 21-day return window for defensive lineman Shemar Turner and linebacker Noah Sewell, but not cornerback Kyler Gordon.
The Chicago Bears are getting closer to welcoming back two key defensive reinforcements. Head coach Ben Johnson confirmed that defensive lineman Shamar Turner and linebacker Noah Sewell will both return to practice this week, opening the 21-day practice window for each player.
Both started the season on the PUP list, meaning they could not practice for the first two weeks, however both players cannot play in a game until at least Week 5 against the Green Bay Packers. Still, a positive first step for both players coming back from injuries.
Shemar Turner and Noah Sewell will eventually be major boosts for this defense
Turner was last year’s second-round pick who played five games as a rookie before suffering a season-ending ACL injury. The Bears liked what they saw from him off the edge in that limited action, and having him back in the rotation sooner than later would be a significant for a defensive front still trying to figure out where all its pieces fit.
The Bears have been working to build a consistent pass rush with the defensive front and Turner could be a key piece to eventually work in to provide a spark. Turner missed the entire offseason and all of training camp recovering from the knee injury, so the 21-day practice window gives the coaching staff time to evaluate where he stands physically before putting him in game action.
As for Sewell, the veteran linebacker has been in Chicago for a couple of years now and is returning from a torn Achilles injury suffered late last season. He played 13 games with nine starts, posting 59 total tackles and logging over 150 special teams snaps. It was his best season with the Bears, and getting him back in the fold would provide a welcome boost to the linebacker room and the special teams unit.
No update on Kyler Gordon is the real story
The bigger development from Johnson’s update is the player he did not mention returning to practice this week. When asked about cornerback Kyler Gordon, the other player on the PUP list, Johnson said: “I’ve got nothing to add there.” That means the Bears have no plans of opening Gordon’s 21-day practice window, yet.
The last update provided on this situation was that Gordon is away from the facility, training with his personal trainer as he works to come back from a calf injury that has plagued him since last season. The lack of any new information is concerning. Johnson has offered little beyond vague non-answers regarding Gordon’s timeline since training camp, and at this point, his return to the team in any capacity is questionable at best.
The this continues to raise real questions about Gordon’s future with the team and whether the Bears might explore other ways to handle him going forward. Chicago already has significant money tied up on Gordon’s contract and have gotten stellar play from rookie Malik Muhammad II at Gordon’s former position. That makes the uncertainty surrounding Gordon’s status something to monitor closely in the weeks ahead.
