Kyler Gordon has missed most of the season for the Chicago Bears. While it’s been hard for him as a competitor, it’s been even worse for the defense. Gordon’s ability as a slot cornerback was expected to be a central part of Dennis Allen’s new scheme. We’ve caught glimpses of it at times this season, particularly in the big win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Then, as has become routine far too often, he pulled up lame in warmups before the pivotal matchup with the Green Bay Packers. Needless to say, nobody was happy about it.
Head coach Ben Johnson struggled to contain his frustration at Gordon’s issues. It is one thing to suffer ligament or bone injuries. Those are just bad luck. Gordon has been dealing with soft tissue problems like the groin, hamstring, and calf. Typically, that speaks to a player who has a poor training regimen to keep their body properly conditioned. So what does the future hold for the cornerback? Johnson was asked about it during his press conference on Wednesday. The head coach didn’t sugarcoat it.
The loss of Kyler Gordon can’t be understated.
Chicago’s pass defense is drastically weakened when he’s not on the field. They are 4th in success rate when he plays and 28th when he doesn’t. You don’t need to look hard for reasons why his absence could be crippling to the Bears’ playoff hopes. Green Bay attacked the slot relentlessly on Sunday. C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who was forced to replace Gordon, was targeted nine times, allowing eight catches for 97 yards and a touchdown. It won’t get much better from here on out.
After facing Cleveland on Sunday, the Bears must play the Packers again, who already proved they could exploit the void Kyler Gordon leaves behind. Then they travel to San Francisco, where Kyle Shanahan rarely has issues finding favorable matchups for his offense. Last but not least, they must host the Detroit Lions and Amon-Ra St. Brown, the best slot receiver in the NFL. One can only pray the injury isn’t as serious as Johnson fears. If Gordon is done for the season, the Bears face a monumental challenge trying to replace him.
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