Kyler Gordon Name-Drops Bears Teammate After Viral Comments

Kyler Gordon, Chicago Bears

By now, the timeline of events preceding former Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus’ firing is well-documented. Much of the fallout has landed too, left only to show whether or not they made the right decision. There was still the matter of one of the more polarizing moments to come out of that game.

It was not something that happened on the field. It was Bears nickelback Kyler Gordon’s “no comment” remarks in the locker room.

Kyler Gordon Name-Drops Jaquan Brisker Over Viral Comments From Bears Loss

Bears DB Kyler Gordon on Reason for Losses: ‘No Comment’

Asked whether or not there was a common denominator behind the Bears’ late-game issues which have led to a six-game losing streak, Gordon paused to think before uttering the common side-step phrase.

On Thursday, Clocker Sports asked Gordon whether he had anything to add to his remarks.

“I don’t have anything to say about it really,” Gordon told Clocker Sports with a chuckle after practice on Thursday. “I think Brisk said it best: God don’t make mistakes.”

Fans noticed corner Jaylon Johnson sitting solemnly in the background behind Gordon. We now know that Johnson lashed out at Eberflus following the loss. So much of what has happened since then was already decided by what had happened before media ever stepped foot in that locker room.

“Brisk” is, of course, safety Jaquan Brisker, who has been sidelined since Week 5 and on injured reserve since Week 11 with a concussion. He is eligible to return from IR following the Bears’ Week 14 road tilt against the San Francisco 49ers.

He also posted a message on X saying exactly what Gordon did after Eberflus’ firing.

Eberflus once spent a chunk of a press conference discussing the nicknames he gave to his players.

Gordon’s was “Kyler-Man.” It plays on the DB’s self-proclaimed “Spider-Man” persona which shows up on game days. Brisker was the “Mako Shark.” There were many, many others; “Dino Dex” for Gervon Dexter is another.

But in the end, Eberflus’ saving grace – his defensive acumen – failed him one too many times.

Be it poor game management, of which he was certainly guilty, or lack of horses on defense, it failed.

Brisker and Gordon have both missed multiple games every season since entering the NFL. Constant change disrupts young players’ progress. Similarly, constantly losing frontline players makes life tough for coaches.

That is to say nothing about the quality of depth at defensive tackle and edge rusher.

Those are two critical positions in a Cover-2-based scheme. The Bears made an aggressive push for Larry Ogunjobi in 2022 but went with Dexter and Zacch Pickens after that fell through.

That is on Bears general manager Ryan Poles, not Eberflus.  And yet, good coaches receive praise for overcoming those kinds of adverse situations. It is also fair to say that Eberflus rarely if ever did that.

The talent is there on both sides of the ball.

So much so that the organization broke with its own tradition twice, firing Eberflus after it parted with offensive coordinator Shane Waldron.

They must regain the confidence and swagger that defined them down the stretch in 2023 though. Otherwise, even more changes will be all but guaranteed. Perhaps that is why interim head coach Thomas Brown’s message about keeping business in-house has resonated so well.

“It benefits us because anything outside of it doesn’t really benefit us,” Gordon said.

“Hearing what other people have to say never really benefits anybody. So I feel like that’s the mindset, it’s fixing what we have inside house and keeping it here.”

Bears RB Preparing for Potential Increased Opportunity vs 49ers

Darrynton Evans, Demetric Felton Jr., Chicago Bears
Darrynton Evans #25 and Demetric Felton #37 of the Chicago Bears warm up before practice. Mandatory credit: Clocker Sports

While Brisker, Gordon, and the Bears’ defense focus on getting back on track, neither D’Andre Swift nor Roschon Johnson have practiced through the first two days of Week 14. There is but one session left for them to get any kind of work in for even a chance to suit up against San Fran.

Swift is dealing with a groin issue that popped up following the Bears’ loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 12.

He appeared on the injury report before the Vikings game but not before facing the Lions.

Johnson picked up a concussion during the loss to Detroit, potentially leaving the Bears with an RB trio of incumbent Travis Homer, recently re-signed Darrynton Evans, and fellow recent addition Demetric Felton who was with the team during training camp.

This is Evans’ third stint with the Bears. He has played in 11 games for Chicago, running the ball 44 times for 169 yards (3.8 YPC).

“For me, it’s always been just make sure you’re ready when your number’s called. It’s not the first time I’ve been switching teams midseason. It’s not the easiest thing to do, but at the same time – it’s not a position you would prefer to be in – but that’s the position I’m in,” Evans told Clocker Sports following Thursday’s practice. “I just got to make the most of my opportunities – if my number is called. And then from there, let the cards fall how they do.”

A lot has changed since Evans was in Chicago just last season.

The Bears are technically on their third OC just since Evans left with Chris Beatty taking over for Brown following the latter’s promotion. All three backs ahead of him then – D’Onta Foreman, Khalil Herbert, and Johnson – are gone or out too.

Homer is the lone (healthy) constant in the running back room. Evans said Homer helped him settle in after his return.

Evans said Homer has been a “really good help.”

“Yeah, I would say, ever since I came back, he’s [Homer] been somebody I can lean on,” Evans said. “Just asking questions about the playbook, different things, to kind of learn to pick up on the nuances that this coaching staff wants here.”

Evans has 62 carries for 421 yards and 1 touchdown in his four-year career. Felton has 20 for 189 and 2 scores. Homer is the most experienced back in the room with 86 career carries for 469 yards and 1 TD. Again, though, the Bears special teams units would suffer without him

More on Bears’ RB Situation

D'Andre Swift, Chicago Bears
D’Andre Swift #4 of the Chicago Bears speaks with reporters after facing the Green Bay Packers. Mandatory credit: Clocker Sports

Players play. But the coaching staff has to get them ready to do so, and that has meant a little extra work for Bears running backs coach Chad Morton.

But he does not expect the dropoff to be too significant if Evans, Felton, or Homer must play.

“I’m just getting them right assignment-wise. I’m not ever worried about them physically,” Morton told Clocker Sports on Thursday. “Just make sure they’re caught up to speed on what to do with the protections, where to be on routes and stuff like that. But other than that, not too worried. Gotta put in the extra time. They got to study and we just gotta figure this thing out by game time.”

Morton said he stays out of injury issues when asked how Brisker’s situation might affect their handling of Johnson. The RB also missed two weeks as a rookie in 2023 with a concussion.

He did, however, admit that he was holding out hope that Swift could find a way to suit up against the 49ers on Sunday.