Bears Activate Kyler Gordon to 53-Man Roster, Place Dayo Odeyingbo on IR

The Chicago Bears have made a series of moves ahead of their Week 6 road game against the Atlanta Falcons, including activating defensive back Kyler Gordon from Reserve/PUP. 

Chicago also signed veteran defensive back Nick McCloud to the active roster. To make room for these addtions, defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo was placed on injured reserve, meaning he will miss at least the next four games. Veteran safety Xavier Woods was released. 

Gordon last played a game against the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional Round at Soldier Field last season. Since then, it's been a tough road for Gordon to get back healthy and also to regain the trust of the coaching staff. 

However, once Gordon's 21-day practice window officially opened on Oct. 1, he's been a full participant in the team's practices and the tone from Johnson started to shift about the Bears' nickel corner. 

“We had extended practice (with Gordon) on Wednesday, got some of these guys on PUP and some of the young guys just some extra work in pads," Johnson said on Oct 1. "And he looked good. It was encouraging. I call it a stress test right now, and we'll see how well he holds up here over the next few weeks."

Gordon's calf injury held up and now he returns to a Bears secondary that is coming off a tough performance in the 31-7 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Here is what Johnson said about Gordon on Friday. 

“He's done a great job taking everything that we've assigned him so far," Johnson said. "I feel good about him, whether that's this week or next week. I do feel good about him being able to contribute to this team and help us out. There's a number of ways that he can do that, but I'm encouraged with what I've seen so far.”

Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen shared on Thursday that any of the players coming off the PUP -- defensive lineman Shemar Turner, linebacker Noah Sewell and Gordon -- "would have a limited role to start with."

That will be the expectation for Gordon against the Falcons. 

“I've said this before, I think Kyler can help us win games," Allen said. "When that time comes where he's able to be out there on the field and participate and help us win games, I'm looking forward to that time."

That time is now, and it comes at a pivotal point in the Bears season. The Bears must find a way to leave Atlanta with a win because the team will have three straight primetime games, including a Thursday night matchup against the New England Patriots on Oct. 22. 

Allen's defense has done some adding and subtracting on that side of the ball this last week. Turner will make his 2026 debut, but losing Odeyingbo hurts. He leads the team in total pressures (14) and is second on the team in sacks (3). Montez Sweat will miss his first of two games on Sunday because he violated the NFL's Performance-Enhancing Substances Policy. Veteran linebacker T.J. Edwards also is out this Sunday with a hamstring injury. 

Of course, the biggest question still remaining on the team is whether quarterback Caleb Williams returns on Sunday after injuring his hamstring in Week 2. 

The Bears will at least have on of their top playmakers in the secondary back. Gordon is an asset in the run game, and the Bears will need that against Bijan Robinson, the NFL's leading rusher.