Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson said he’s hopeful Kyler Gordon will return to practice this week, meaning it’s a virtual lock the nickel cornerback will be designated to return from injured reserve for the second time this season.
Less clear is how Gordon would perform if he’s able to play Saturday night against the Green Bay Packers in the wild-card playoff game at Soldier Field.
Asked Monday if Gordon would be back at practice this week, Johnson said: “That’s the hope.”
Gordon has missed the last four games on IR with a groin injury and has missed 14 in all this season — as well as all of the preseason and the bulk of training camp — with soft-tissue injuries that also include hamstring and calf issues.
The Bears are pressed to get Gordon back after his replacement, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, was knocked out of Sunday’s loss to the Detroit Lions with a concussion. Gordon has been working out and running on side fields under the supervision of athletic training staff members, but what he might look like with the Bears practicing twice before Saturday is anyone’s best guess.
You can count on two hands the number of practices Gordon has participated in since he left the Week 7 win over the New Orleans Saints with an injury. The total is nine, and while he had consecutive weeks in which he was a full participant, the groin issue flared up in warmups before the Week 14 game in Green Bay and he has been on the shelf since.
Gardner-Johnson’s familiarity with defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s scheme made him a quick and natural fit as Gordon’s injury woes wore on. Gardner-Johnson has two interceptions and three sacks and has had a regular role in the pressure packages, but he also has been targeted regularly by opposing quarterbacks in recent weeks and was in coverage on a touchdown pass in both previous games against the Packers.
Nick McCloud has served as a reserve nickel cornerback, but he missed Sunday’s game with an illness and that forced Jaylon Jones into action. Now the Bears are cautiously optimistic that Gordon, who has played only 117 snaps all season, can return seamlessly and make a difference.
The team will conduct a walk-through Tuesday before practices Wednesday and Thursday, by which time the coaches and front office should know if Gordon is ready for yet another comeback from a problem that first appeared five months ago in training camp.
The Bears are carrying 52 players on the active roster, so Gordon could rejoin the group without a corresponding transaction.