Who worked at nickel cornerback for Bears with Kyler Gordon sidelined
· Yahoo Sports
There's been plenty of frustration surrounding Chicago Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon's injury struggles, and it's clear he has to earn back the trust of the coaching staff and organization heading into the 2026 season.
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Gordon starting training camp on the physically unable to perform list with a calf injury isn't ideal, and the frustration was evident from general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson on Tuesday.
But the Bears can't rely on Gordon playing a full season, something he's yet to do in four years in the NFL, and they discussed evaluating other players to possibly fill that role. Translation: Gordon's starting job isn't guaranteed.
With Gordon sidelined, Chicago rotated several players at nickel during Wednesday's practice, where it was Jaylon Jones working with the starters for most of the workout. Josh Blackwell, rookie Malik Muhammad and veteran newcomer Cam Lewis also mixed in at nickel throughout the morning.
The Bears' first practice of training camp is in the books. A shorty during an OTA-like ramp up week at Halas Hall. Not a whole lot of significance from today's work on Fields 1 and 2. In Kyler Gordon's absence, early 1 nickel reps to Jaylon Jones. Lewis + Blackwell mixing in.
— Dan Wiederer (@danwiederer) July 29, 2026
Jaylon Jones, Josh Blackwell and Malik Muhammad all had reps as the nickel.
— Zack Pearson (@Zack_Pearson) July 29, 2026
It was Jones with the starters for most of practice. #Bears
There's no denying that the Bears defense has been better when Gordon is healthy and on the field. There's a reason they paid him as a top nickel when he was extended back in 2025. But when the best ability is availability, Gordon has failed to be a reliable player for this defense amid his struggles with soft tissue injuries.
The sooner Gordon can get back on the field, prove his worth and start earning back the trust of the coaching staff, the better for a Chicago defense looking to bounce back after a rough season. And a little competition doesn't hurt.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Who worked at nickel cornerback for Bears with Kyler Gordon sidelined