The 2026 season is off to an ominous start for Chicago Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon.
The Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs reported that Gordon has been dealing with a soft-tissue injury that has limited his participation in the Bears’ offseason program to this point. They are in Phase II, with organized team activities (OTAs) beginning on Wednesday.
Ahead of the only OTA session that will be open to the media during this phase, Gordon shared a fitting message from an interesting source.
Bears’ Kyler Gordon Shares Message From Former Teammate
Kyler Gordon Amplifies Steelers’ Jaquan Brisker During Bears OTAs
Gordon shared a message from former Bears teammate Jaquan Brisker, who signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency this offseason. The Bears drafted Brisker and Gordon in the second round of the 2022 draft.
Brisker, who logged his first full slate of regular-season games in 2025, is eyeing redemption.
“This comeback personal..,” Brisker said in a post on X on May 27. “I owe it to myself! [bow and arrow emojis].”
More than just sharing Brisker’s post, though, Gordon responded to his former fellow Bears DB, replying with a double-exclamation point emoji, as well as one of a spider, a nod to his nickname.
Gordon is coming off an injury-marred 2025 season.
Bears head coach Ben Johnson has openly lamented how little they have gotten to work with their starting nickelback.
He is also starting a three-year, $40 million contract extension, which he signed in 2025, this season. The Bears would incur more than $17 million in dead cap if they cut ties with Gordon this offseason, but the potential hits drop significantly in 2027 ($5M) and 2028 ($2.5M).
Bears Banking on Battered Secondary
The Bears are banking on Gordon and fellow starter Jaylon Johnson to have healthier campaigns in 2026. Like with Gordon, the Bears would face a significant dead cap hit ($25.6M) if they cut ties with Johnson this offseason, but they can do so at a steep discount in 2027.
Johnson is signed through 2028 on a four-year, $76 million pact, but has also been away so far during the offseason program, per defensive backs coach Al Harris, via CHGO’s Adam Hoge.
Moreover, the Bears need Tyrique Stevenson to rebound from a rollercoaster campaign in 2025.
Terell Smith, whom the Bears drafted in 2023 along with Stevenson, missed the entire season due to an injury, too. But they could all face a challenge from rookie fourth-round pick Malik Muhammad, the 124th overall selection of the 2026 NFL Draft.
They allowed 2025 Pro Bowler Nahshon Wright to leave and sign with the New York Jets in free agency this offseason, putting the onus on their incumbents to prove their worth in 2026.
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