Tag: Kyler Gordon

Bear Necessities: How rookies Kyler Gordon, Velus Jones Jr. stayed involved while sidelined

Bears rookies Kyler Gordon and Velus Jones Jr. returned to practice Monday. They shared how they managed to stay involved while sidelined.

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Bears rookies cornerback Kyler Gordon and wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. returned to practice on Monday after being sidelined with injuries.

Despite not practicing or participating in the preseason opener last week, Gordon and Jones were able to stay involved on the sidelines with mental reps.

Gordon made sure to get a play sheet from the coaches, and he studied each play to stay focused. Given Gordon has seen time at both outside and nickel cornerback this summer, he paid attention to both positions while sidelined.

“I just do a good job of like looking at the whole play and thinking about both assignments,” Gordon said. “Then I’ll see the formation and be like, ‘OK, if I’m here this is what I do, if I’m here this is what I do.’ Depending on different team periods, I’ll lock in on say the nickel, I’ll be conscious of both, but have the eyes of the nickel. And then the different period, I’ll have eyes on the corner. That’s just how I go about it.”

Meanwhile, Jones kept close to the quarterbacks, where he had a chance to see the plays from their perspective. While Jones couldn’t be on the field, he visualized himself out there when plays were developing.

“I’m always, at night, just visualizing myself like making plays on certain play calls and stuff like that,” Jones said. “So it’s like just picture seeing myself in there when one of the guys run a route and thinking about how they looked in their route, the details about the route and stuff. Or I can take something from their game, something I might like. So I’m all about when I’m on the side and stuff, visualizing myself making a play or catch or block.”

Both Gordon and Jones are on track to make their preseason debuts this Thursday night against the Seahawks.

7 takeaways from 14th practice at Bears training camp

The Bears returned to the practice field following their preseason opener. Here’s what we learned from Day 14:

The Chicago Bears returned to Halas Hall on Monday for a non-padded practice following Saturday’s preseason win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

There were plenty of updates from the media and fans in attendance. While it was a lighter, shorter practice on Monday, there were certainly some notable storylines with the offensive line, some promotions for players further down the depth chart and the returns of big-name players from injury.

There was plenty to digest from practice and press conferences with offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, cornerback Kyler Gordon, wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. and quarterback Trevor Siemian.

Following Monday’s practice, here’s a look at what we learned from the 14th day of Bears training camp:

10 takeaways from the second week of Bears training camp

The Bears have two weeks of training camp in the books. Here’s what we learned from the last few practices.

The Chicago Bears have concluded their second week of training camp practice at Halas Hall, where the pads finally came on and the intensity was kicked up a notch.

There was plenty to take in from the second week of practice, including the offense still needing work, some development along the offensive line and an influx of injuries.

The Bears return to the practice field on Tuesday for Family Fest, where they’ll hold three straight practices before their preseason opener against the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday.

But before we look ahead to the third week of practice, here’s what we learned after Chicago’s second week of training camp:

Bears injury, absence updates from Day 9 of training camp

The Bears had a laundry list of players sidelined for Saturday’s practice, including Byron Pringle, Kyler Gordon and Velus Jones Jr.

The Chicago Bears returned to the practice field on Saturday for their ninth training camp practice, and there were a number of notable absences.

Let’s start at wide receiver, where some of the team’s top wideouts are nursing injuries. Byron Pringle is dealing with a quad injury that’s considered more than day-to-day. Matt Eberflus said there’s no timetable for his return, but he doesn’t expect it to carry into the regular season.

Wide receiver N’Keal Harry left Saturday’s practice early with an apparent left leg injury. Harry was tackled by safety Eddie Jackson and linebacker Nicholas Morrow during the start of a team period. He had difficulty putting any weight on his leg and was helped to the locker room.

Now, on to the rookies. Cornerback Kyler Gordon, wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. and offensive tackle Braxton Jones are sidelined with undisclosed injuries that are considered day-to-day.

The Bears were already without cornerbacks Gordon, Kindle Vildor and Duke Shelley on Friday, and they remained sidelined on Saturday with undisclosed injuries. Also sidelined was defensive tackle Angelo Blackson, wide receiver Dante Pettis and tight end James O’Shaughnessy.

Offensive tackle Teven Jenkins did return to practice after missing seven straight practices with an undisclosed injury. He participated only in individual drills as he’ll look to ramp-up before getting back into the competition for a starting tackle job.

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Bears injury, absence updates from Day 8 of training camp

Bears rookie CB Kyler Gordon is among the players not practicing on Friday. And, surprise, Teven Jenkins missed his seventh practice.

The Chicago Bears returned to the practice field on Friday for their eighth training camp practice, where the pads on are for the third straight workout.

While offensive tackle Teven Jenkins has missed his seventh straight practice, there were some other notable absences and apparent injuries.

The Bears have a long list of players who aren’t practicing on Friday, including several cornerbacks. Rookie Kyler Gordon, Kindle Vildor and Duke Shelley aren’t participating, which is concerning given the team is already without Thomas Graham Jr., who’s nursing a hamstring injury.

Defensive end Robert Quinn, defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga, tight end James O’Shaughnessy, wide receiver Dante Pettis and linebacker C.J. Avery were also not practicing.

Center Lucas Patrick remains sidelined with a right hand injury, and linebacker Roquan Smith remains on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.

The good news? Defensive tackle Angelo Blackson and rookie tight end Chase Allen returned to practice after missing a few days.

Follow along with live updates from the eighth practice of Bears training camp below:

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10 takeaways after the first full week of Bears training camp

The Bears wrapped their first full week of training camp. Here’s what we learned from the first 7 practices.

The Chicago Bears have concluded their first full week of training camp practice at Halas Hall, where they conducted seven workouts, including two with pads.

There was plenty to take in from the first full week of practice, including the offense’s early struggles, the consistent shuffling along the offensive line, an improved secondary and the Teven Jenkins saga.

The Bears return to the practice field on Friday morning, where they’ll hold three straight practices before another off day on Monday.

But before we look ahead to the second week of practices, here’s what we learned after Chicago’s first full week of training camp:

Winners and losers after first week of Bears training camp

The Chicago Bears have already completed over a week of training camp and a few players are standing out, both positively and negatively.

The Chicago Bears have already completed over one week of training camp at Halas Hall and a few players are standing out, both positively and negatively.

There’s still a long way to go until the final roster is set and preseason games have yet to get underway, but here are the winners and losers at this point during camp for the Bears.

Position battle updates following first week of Bears training camp

Following the first seven practices of training camp, we’re taking a look at how some of the Bears’ top position battles are shaking out.

The Chicago Bears have wrapped their first full week of training camp with seven practices, including two with pads, in the books.

There’s been plenty of competition at multiple positions on the roster, including some shake-ups along the offensive line and at cornerback, as well as some interesting names emerging at wide receiver.

There are no shortage of roster battles we’ve been monitoring at the start of the summer, and there have been some interesting developments through the first portion of camp.

Following the first seven practices of training camp, we’re taking a look at how some of the Bears’ top position battles are shaking out.

10 takeaways from first padded practice at Bears training camp

The Bears held their sixth practice of training camp on Tuesday. Here’s what we learned from their first padded practice.

The Chicago Bears conducted their first padded practice of training camp on Tuesday, where they welcomed fans back to Halas Hall.

The intensity was kicked up a notch as the guys in the trenches finally got to start hitting. But, once again, it was the Bears defense that won the day. The offense had its moments, but they still have a ways to go. Luckily, we’re just six practices into the summer.

There was plenty to take in from practice and press conferences with special teams coordinator Richard Hightower, offensive tackle Braxton Jones, cornerback Jaylon Johnson, quarterback Trevor Siemian and defensive end Robert Quinn.

Following Tuesday’s practice, here’s a look at what we learned from the first padded practice of Bears training camp:

Bears experimenting with different cornerback combinations

Are the Bears better with Jaylon Johnson-Kyler Gordon-Tavon Young or Johnson-Kindle-Vildor-Gordon? That’s what they’re trying to figure out.

Bears head coach Matt Eberflus has made it clear that he’s experimenting with different combinations at multiple positions. While the offensive line has dominated headlines, we’re starting to see the same happening in the secondary.

At this point, it’s clear that cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and rookie Kyler Gordon will be starters when the season kicks off. Johnson will be CB1 on the outside, but it’s Gordon’s role that’s still being determined.

Since the start of training camp, Gordon has been splitting reps between the outside and in the slot. Given he played both positions in college, the coaches want to see where he fits best — but also how that would impact a starting groping.

According to The Athletic, Gordon played almost exclusively at nickel cornerback during Monday’s practice. The combination featured Jaylon Johnson and Kindle Vildor on the outside with Gordon in the slot.

For Eberflus, he’s trying to find the right combination of players — which goes for every position. But the question is whether the secondary is better off with a grouping of Johnson and Gordon on the outside with Tavon Young in the slot or Johnson and Vildor outside and Gordon at nickel.

“It’s like a puzzle,” Eberflus said. “You’re trying to fit it together and put the best guys out there, and is this combination of corners better than this combination? You also have to look up matchup, so that’s a week-to-week thing. Sometimes it might look different week to week, where it’s based on a matchup situation we like, and then by down and distance. You might like a certain matchup better on third down in two-minute than you do on first or second down. So that’s all-encompassing.”

That evaluation should ramp up once the pads come on this week. There are several factors at play. It’s not just a matter of where Gordon fits best — because he’s flashing in both positions. But is the cornerback grouping better with Young in the slot or Vildor on the outside. It’s something the coaching staff will have to figure out over the next several weeks.

Unfortunately, Chicago hasn’t gotten a look at another option in Thomas Graham Jr., who’s missed the last several practices with a hamstring injury.

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