Kyler Gordon’s workout video adds new twist to Bears’ frustrating injury saga

K yler Gordon may not be ready to return to the Chicago Bears , but a new workout video suggests the injured defensive back is at least moving closer to testing his troublesome calf.

Gordon surfaced on social media Wednesday, just one day after Bears general manager Ryan Poles raised fresh doubts about whether the 26-year-old will play at all this season.

The timing immediately added another layer to a frustrating injury situation that has kept one of Chicago's key defensive pieces away from the field throughout the offseason.

The short video showed Gordon working with rehabilitation specialist Foot Doctor Moe rather than the Bears ' own training staff.

He went through lunges and jumping exercises before breaking into a full sprint, providing perhaps the clearest public indication yet that he can put some significant stress on the injured leg.

That does not necessarily mean Gordon is close to returning to game action. He remains on the physically unable to perform list, which guarantees that he will miss at least the first four games of the regular season. The Bears have also been reluctant to provide a firm timetable for his recovery.

Poles ' comments Tuesday made the uncertainty particularly striking. “I don’t know,” Poles replied. “I would hope so. I still have hope there. He’s going to have to continue to work hard and come back to play football again.”

Poles also acknowledged that Gordon has been working with people outside Chicago's organization during his rehabilitation.

“Some of these guys, they also have other people that they work with too,” Poles said. “But yeah, he’s working. … We’re not progressing as fast as we’d like. That’s really all I have to say.”

The video therefore offers some encouragement, but it does not erase the central concern surrounding Gordon: he has been unable to establish a consistent path back to football.

Gordon’s health has become a major concern for Chicago

The Bears invested heavily in Gordon after watching him develop into an important part of their secondary. Chicago selected him No. 39 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, and he quickly established himself as a versatile defensive back capable of playing a prominent role in the slot.

He recorded three interceptions as a rookie and added two more in his second season. In 2024, Gordon started 13 of the 15 games he played and finished with a career-best 75 tackles, three fumble recoveries, five passes defended and a forced fumble.

That production helped convince the Bears to make a significant long-term commitment.

In April 2025, Chicago signed Gordon to a three-year, $40 million extension that runs through the 2028 season. The deal included more than $31 million in guarantees and made Gordon the NFL's highest-paid slot cornerback at the time, with an average annual value of roughly $13.3 million. But availability has become the biggest question.

Gordon played only three regular-season games in 2025 while dealing with injuries, although he returned for both of Chicago's playoff games.

The Bears ' official statistics list him with seven tackles, one sack and a fumble recovery during those three regular-season appearances, followed by 10 tackles and a sack across the postseason. Now another extended absence has put his 2026 season in jeopardy.

The calf problem kept Gordon out of spring practices and training camp, and his placement on the PUP list guarantees that Chicago will begin the season without him.

Even if the new workout is a positive sign, the Bears still need to see sustained progress before they can confidently plan around his return.

That uncertainty matters because Gordon was supposed to be part of a defensive secondary that Chicago hoped could take another step forward.

The team has other options available, but replacing an established nickel defender with Gordon's experience and versatility is not a simple task.

For now, the latest video provides a reason for optimism without providing an answer.

Gordon is running. He is jumping. He is testing the calf under increasing physical demands. But until he can consistently handle football-specific work and return to the Bears' practice field, his status remains one of the biggest unresolved questions surrounding Chicago's roster.

The Bears wanted Gordon healthy when they committed $40 million to him. More than a year later, they are still waiting to see when that investment can fully return to the field.