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It's a cliché, but in many ways it's evergreen: The best ability in the NFL is availability. After all, what good is someone's talent if they can't consistently stay on the field to use said talent?
That's the central question with Chicago Bears nickel cornerback Kyler Gordon right now.
A year after appearing in just three games thanks to lingering groin and calf issues, Gordon is, once again, hurt at the start of Bears training camp. The veteran defensive back is starting camp on the PUP list (Physically Unable to Perform) with a calf injury. He has no slated timeline for a return, so he's probably going to miss most of camp and the Bears' preseason, if we're technically speaking. Woof.
This wouldn't be that big of a problem if Gordon was a cheap-contract guy on the fringe of the Bears' roster trying to make a name for himself. No one would bat an eyelash over his health concerns if Gordon was an undrafted free agent. But he's not. Gordon is a former second-round draft pick and the Bears' seventh-highest-paid player by average annual salary ($13.3 million). He got paid that money because he's an excellent defender ... on the rare occasions we see him. The 26-year-old is supposed to be a cornerstone of Chicago's defensive operation. Yet, he has played in just 45 of a possible 68 games in his four-year career so far.
The Bears count on Gordon, who is a relatively high-profile player. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.
Given this context, you could understand why Gordon's injury issues are beginning to wear thin for Bears head coach Ben Johnson. When asked what sort of message he would give Gordon amid a new health problem that will keep him out of practice for the foreseeable future, Johnson kept his thoughts, uh... concise?
Yeah, that's the nice way to put it:
Make no mistake: Those are the terse words of a coach tired of leaning on a player who can't stay healthy.
These injury issues aren't necessarily Gordon's fault, to be clear. Injuries happen, often at the worst time, and especially in pro football. But that is not Johnson's or his Bears coaching staff's problem. They are not making the distinction of whose fault it is because who does that serve when you're trying to bring the best 53-man roster to a stadium every Sunday? To Johnson and his subordinate coaches, the fact that Gordon can't stay healthy is only a reflection of the Bears not being able to lean on him while still, presumably, building much of their defensive scheme around his talent.
Gordon is only as good to Johnson as what he's done for the Bears lately. And all he's done for the Bears lately is get hurt while seldom seeing the field. Factor in his expensive contract, and it seems clear that Gordon is already on thin ice with one of the NFL's best young coaches. He'll have to do a lot — you know, by making a consistent impact on winning this season — to get himself back into Johnson's and the Bears' good graces.
It's as simple as that.
According to Over the Cap, Gordon has all three years left on his Chicago contract, considering his extension only kicked in this year. He will make $10 million over the next two seasons. However, the Bears could theoretically cut Gordon for minimal penalty come the 2027 offseason. Such a move would only cost Chicago $5 million in dead salary cap money.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Ben Johnson had stern 2-word message for oft-injured Bears cornerback
Continue reading...
That's the central question with Chicago Bears nickel cornerback Kyler Gordon right now.
A year after appearing in just three games thanks to lingering groin and calf issues, Gordon is, once again, hurt at the start of Bears training camp. The veteran defensive back is starting camp on the PUP list (Physically Unable to Perform) with a calf injury. He has no slated timeline for a return, so he's probably going to miss most of camp and the Bears' preseason, if we're technically speaking. Woof.
This wouldn't be that big of a problem if Gordon was a cheap-contract guy on the fringe of the Bears' roster trying to make a name for himself. No one would bat an eyelash over his health concerns if Gordon was an undrafted free agent. But he's not. Gordon is a former second-round draft pick and the Bears' seventh-highest-paid player by average annual salary ($13.3 million). He got paid that money because he's an excellent defender ... on the rare occasions we see him. The 26-year-old is supposed to be a cornerstone of Chicago's defensive operation. Yet, he has played in just 45 of a possible 68 games in his four-year career so far.
The Bears count on Gordon, who is a relatively high-profile player. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.
Given this context, you could understand why Gordon's injury issues are beginning to wear thin for Bears head coach Ben Johnson. When asked what sort of message he would give Gordon amid a new health problem that will keep him out of practice for the foreseeable future, Johnson kept his thoughts, uh... concise?
Yeah, that's the nice way to put it:
Make no mistake: Those are the terse words of a coach tired of leaning on a player who can't stay healthy.
These injury issues aren't necessarily Gordon's fault, to be clear. Injuries happen, often at the worst time, and especially in pro football. But that is not Johnson's or his Bears coaching staff's problem. They are not making the distinction of whose fault it is because who does that serve when you're trying to bring the best 53-man roster to a stadium every Sunday? To Johnson and his subordinate coaches, the fact that Gordon can't stay healthy is only a reflection of the Bears not being able to lean on him while still, presumably, building much of their defensive scheme around his talent.
Gordon is only as good to Johnson as what he's done for the Bears lately. And all he's done for the Bears lately is get hurt while seldom seeing the field. Factor in his expensive contract, and it seems clear that Gordon is already on thin ice with one of the NFL's best young coaches. He'll have to do a lot — you know, by making a consistent impact on winning this season — to get himself back into Johnson's and the Bears' good graces.
It's as simple as that.
How much money does Kyler Gordon have left on his Bears contract?
According to Over the Cap, Gordon has all three years left on his Chicago contract, considering his extension only kicked in this year. He will make $10 million over the next two seasons. However, the Bears could theoretically cut Gordon for minimal penalty come the 2027 offseason. Such a move would only cost Chicago $5 million in dead salary cap money.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Ben Johnson had stern 2-word message for oft-injured Bears cornerback
Continue reading...
