After missing 14 games last season, Chicago Bears defensive back Kyler Gordon remains sidelined this spring, raising questions about his durability moving forward.
For Bears fans who went to Chicago's Week 11 game against the New Orleans Saints last season, that was the only regular-season game at Soldier Field that featured Kyler Gordon.
The Bears' nickel cornerback missed 14 games in 2025. Gordon also played against the Washington Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles, both were on the road.
Throughout the 2025 season, Gordon dealt with a series of soft-tissue injuries. He landed on injured reserve twice but was activated for the playoffs and played in both matchups against the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams.
Although the 2025 season in the past, Gordon's injuries have followed him this year. According to the Chicago Tribune's Brad Biggs, Gordon has been dealing with a soft-tissue injury, which is why the Bears' defensive back hasn't been with the team at the start of the offseason program.
Is a soft-tissue injury in May something fans should freak out about? No. However, Gordon dealt with hamstring, calf and groin injuries from the start and towards the end of the 2025 season. It's not encouraging to see the 26-year-old starting nickel dealing with another injury.
Gordon has yet to play a full 17 games in his first four seasons in the NFL and has missed 23 games since being drafted with the No. 39 overall pick in the second round in 2022. His previous injuries have been a broken hand, concussion and a hamstring strain.
Since Gordon missed so much during the 2025 season, coach Ben Johnson admitted it was tough getting to know the player after he was placed on IR for the second time in December.
"It's disappointing," Johnson said. "I wish I had a better feel for the individual, but with him being out as much as he has, I haven't really gotten to see him on the field and competing and get to know him like I'd like to at this point yet. I do know that the biggest predictor of a soft tissue injury is having a previous one, and he's kind of in this rut right now that we're not able to get out of, and so we're going to exhaust all of our resources in and outside of the building to make sure we're addressing it and doing what we can to get him back and healthy again."
In April 2025, general manager Ryan Poles signed Gordon to a three-year, $40 million extension with $31.25 million guaranteed. Gordon hasn't been able to stay healthy to prove that Poles was right to give his first-ever draft pick that extension.
One encouraging sign, though, was Gordon's play during the playoffs. According to Pro Football Focus, Gordon allowed five receptions for 83 yards and recorded two pass breakups against the Packers and Rams.
Despite playing against one of the best passing offenses in the 2025 regular season in the Rams, Gordon allowed just two catches for 24 yards. That's the type of player defensive coordinator Dennis Allen envisioned in his defense, but Gordon needs to get past these soft-tissue injuries to show he can play at that level on a consistent basis.
