The Chicago Bears face another significant injury concern as they head into their bye week, following the loss of cornerback Kyler Gordon during their Week 6 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Gordon suffered a hamstring injury in the third quarter of the Bears’ 35-16 win in London. After being assisted by the training staff to the locker room, he was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the game. Gordon, who serves as the team’s starting slot cornerback, is the latest casualty in a depleted Bears secondary that was already missing strong safety Jaquan Brisker (concussion) and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson (calf). The Bears turned to backups Elijah Hicks and Jaylon Jones to start in their places.
Josh Blackwell stepped in for Gordon at the nickel spot, becoming the third reserve defensive back to see significant playing time against the Jaguars. Blackwell quickly made an impact, intercepting a Trevor Lawrence pass intended for Christian Kirk on his 12th defensive snap, marking his first career interception. The turnover set up a Bears touchdown three plays later.
Despite the three key injuries, the Bears’ secondary held strong, limiting Lawrence to 23-of-35 passing for 234 yards and two touchdowns, while also making key stops on three consecutive third downs in the first half. This defensive performance allowed the Bears’ offense to build an insurmountable lead.
Other substitutes also shined, with Jones recording a team-high 10 tackles in place of Stevenson, while Hicks contributed five tackles, a pass breakup, and a fumble recovery.
The Bears will now have about two weeks to rest before their next matchup against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, October 27. Head coach Matt Eberflus expressed optimism that Gordon’s injury might be minor, though further evaluation is needed in the coming days.
**Potential Player Returns After the Bye Week**
The Bears’ third consecutive win over the Jaguars gives them some breathing room as they enter the bye week, with hopes of getting several players back from injury before facing the Commanders. Defensive end Jacob Martin, who recently resumed practicing, could be activated to the 53-man roster for the Week 8 game. Veteran guard/center Ryan Bates, eligible to return from injured reserve, may also rejoin practice if his shoulder and elbow injuries show improvement.
Tyrique Stevenson remains a player to monitor, as his return depends on the severity of a calf injury sustained during practice in London. Additionally, Brisker needs to clear the NFL’s concussion protocol before rejoining the lineup.
**Additional Injuries Ahead of the Bye Week:**
– **Zacch Pickens (Defensive Tackle)**: The rookie has missed four straight games with a groin injury suffered in Week 2 against Houston.
– **Terell Smith (Cornerback)**: The fifth-round pick has missed three games due to a hip injury sustained in Week 3’s loss to the Colts.
**About the Author**
Jordan J. Wilson is a sports reporter for Heavy.com, covering the NFL and MLB with a focus on the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers. He has previously reported on high school, college, and professional sports for various outlets, including *The Indianapolis Star*, *The News-Gazette*, *Springfield State-Journal Register*, and *Peoria Journal Star*.
Get more related contents on sportwords.co.uk
Leave a Reply