The Chicago Bears‘ defense finally got some good news on Saturday ahead of their big matchup in Atlanta against the Falcons. After months of waiting, cornerback Kyler Gordon was activated off the PUP list. He is expected to make his 2026 debut on Sunday. The timing of this can’t be understated. Chicago’s pass defense was torn up last week in Green Bay. They need all the help they can get in the secondary. If Gordon can play at his customary level, it will be a massive benefit to a unit that has been dealing with multiple issues.
Adding an interesting wrinkle to the situation is the release of veteran safety Xavier Woods. With Coby Bryant still out, one would think the Bears would prefer to keep him around. Instead, his rough game in Green Bay seems to have done him in. With Gordon back in the lineup, they will likely have a foursome of him, Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson, and rookie Malik Muhammad. That frees up veteran Cam Lewis to shift to his natural position at safety next to Dillon Thieneman.
Kyler Gordon returns with some unfortunate news.
An added detail some may miss is that defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo landed on Injured Reserve. After such a strong start to the season, the Bears will now be without their best interior pass rusher for the next month. That is in addition to losing Montez Sweat to a 2-game suspension for PED violations. Suddenly, the pass rush looks incredibly thin outside of Austin Booker. The team is hoping that the return of 2nd round pick Shemar Turner and the promotion of preseason standout Jamree Kromah are enough to keep things afloat.
Optimism isn’t overly high. That means it falls to the secondary to step up. Getting Kyler Gordon back is a vital component to that. With him (hopefully) securing the nickel spot, it allows the Bears to find the right combination at the boundary spots. Johnson has struggled a lot over the past month, showing zero signs of his old Pro Bowl form. Stevenson is battling a hamstring injury. Muhammad has been great for stretches, but is still a rookie. The Bears must determine which duo is the most reliable.
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The Bears defense can’t buy a break.
In truth, the unit has never been fully healthy, dating back to when Allen took over as defensive coordinator. Somebody has always been hurt. Last year, it was Johnson and Booker to start the season. Then once they got back, Odeyingbo was already out with an Achilles rupture. This year, it was Gordon who’s been MIA for months. Now he finally returns, and half of their starting defensive line is out, not to mention linebacker T.J. Edwards. It is a brutal stretch of bad luck they can’t seem to shake.
One thing is certain. Gordon better be operating with a sense of urgency. He’s lost many supporters within Halas Hall during his absence. Chief among them is head coach Ben Johnson, who seems fed up with his constant absences. If things don’t go well over the next couple of months, there is a real possibility that the Bears may decide to cut bait in the offseason. Gordon needs to play well and fast.
