At this point, it’s impossible not to believe that the Kyler Gordon situation in Chicago hasn’t reached a breaking point. Gordon was placed on the PUP list out of camp, guaranteeing he’ll miss the first four games of the season.
When asked if he’ll play for the Bears again, Ryan Poles offered no confidence that four games is the full extent of Gordon’s missed time during the regular season. Given Poles’ demeanor today, and head coach Ben Johnson’s consistent demeanor on the topic, it feels like Gordon never playing for the Bears again isn’t out of the question.
When asked if Gordon (who signed a three-year, $40 million extension last spring) would play for the Bears this season, Poles replied, “I don’t know, I would hope so. I still have hope there. He’s going to have to continue to work hard.” When discussing who would play nickel in Gordon’s absence this season, Johnson named multiple players including rookie Malik Muhammad, Cam Lewis, Xavier Woods, and even rookie safety Dillon Thieneman. It feels like Muhammad is going to get the first crack at the nickel spot to open the season, and if he excels there, it’ll make it easy for Chicago to move on from Gordon if this continues to trend in that direction. Malik Muhammad (24) after a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn ImagesMORE: Bears GM Ryan Poles On If Kyler Gordon Will Play This Year
I’ve said this before, and it’s worth repeating now: I hope that Gordon gets back on the field. The Bears are undeniably a better team with him on the field. They paid him accordingly, which will prevent them from having the financial flexibility to adequately replace him in the immediate future without sacrificing another position. There’s no world where Gordon not playing is the optimal scenario for the Bears. Furthermore, on a human level, I hope that his body isn’t failing him. All that said, this isn’t good, and there’s not much light at the end of the tunnel right now. Let’s shift gears to someone who is healthy and playing: Luther Burden III. Ben Johnson said over the weekend he thinks Burden looks 100 percent, so it was nice to see the second-year receiver back on the practice field running routes today (via Nicholas Moreano on X):Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III was back at practice running routes. pic.twitter.com/L5yIZObyCY
— Nicholas Moreano (@NicholasMoreano) September 1, 2026 I spent a good chunk of my Tuesday afternoon watching all of Zavion Thomas’ offense and special teams snaps from Chicago’s preseason finale in Nashville on Saturday, and I came away even more impressed than I expected. He runs his routes well, he commands attention from extra defenders, and he’s a willing blocker when he doesn’t have the football coming his way. The vision and patience in his returns were also good.Film Room: Buy Zavion Thomas Stock, Ben Johnson's Designs, More t.co/eBPWhJrD4a
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) September 1, 2026 Former Bears cornerback Terell Smith has a new home after being signed to the Washington Commanders practice squad on Tuesday afternoon. I had some high hopes for Smith, as I’m sure the Bears did when they selected him in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Health was a constant issue for Smith, but when healthy, he totaled 68 tackles, a forced fumble and recovery, 10 pass deflections, and an interception. Hopefully he finds better health moving forward. With the roster cutdowns complete (for the most part, anyway), a few players are sporting new jersey numbers (via Adam Hoge on X). New cornerback Clark Phillips III will wear No. 20, Xavier Woods will wear No. 32, wide receiver Kaden Davis will wear No. 80, and wide receiver Scotty Miller will wear No. 82. The latest on a few Bears injuries of note: Kyle Monangai is week-to-week, and Jaylon Johnson and Tyrique Stevenson are day-to-day.THE BN BEARS PODCAST LIVES HERE: Apple | Spotify | YouTube
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