When it comes to Kyler Gordon’s return from injury, Ryan Poles isn’t sure when — or even if — the cornerback will be back on the field.
Asked point blank on Tuesday if he thinks Gordon will ever play for the Bears again, Poles was honest.
“I don’t know … I would hope so,” the Chicago Bears GM said to reporters. “I still have hope there.”
Poles’ comments were a stunning entry to an ongoing mystery at Halas Hall. The exact nature of Gordon’s injury is unknown and Poles said he couldn’t give specificity.
Gordon is in the first year of a three-year, $40 million extension. He was placed on the PUP list on Monday, which ensures he will miss at least the season’s first four games.
Because both Poles and Ben Johnson have voiced their public frustration with Gordon, it would seem the team is upset at Gordon’s willingness to get back on the field.
One comment from Poles on Tuesday didn’t do anything to squash that notion.
“Anytime you have an injury and are coming back, there’s discomfort you have to push through,” Poles said. “And that’s what it comes down to. We haven’t been able to get over that hump and we’re not progressing as fast as we would like.”
Poles said Gordon was working with Bears trainers on the rehab, but added “some of these guys also have people they work with, too.”
“I think when people come back from injuries, there’s different things that happen. Sometimes they return fast, sometimes it’s slow. So it’s really a timing thing and a healing thing and a confidence thing.
“I don’t have a timetable. We’ll see how that goes.”
Poles Weighs In On Gervon Dexter Trade
The other big story of Poles’ press conference was his first comments since trading defensive lineman Gervon Dexter to Atlanta on Sunday morning.
Poles said the swap of Dexter for CB Clark Phillips III and a fifth-round pick came down to a “timing thing.”
“I think it really has to do with the room. That room was highly competitive,” Poles said. “Those young guys started making a push when we got through camp … We felt like the timing made sense for us.”
Poles said that Phillips will definitely “add depth to our corner room,” but wouldn’t answer whether he’d play outside or slot corner.
“We’ll see, he obviously just got here,” Poles said. “I think he’s capable of both, but in the league he’s been outside.”
As for saying goodbye to Dexter, Poles said the team didn’t like the “consistency” they were seeing from the 53rd overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
“I don’t think we’re an organization or I’m a GM that is going to hold on just because it was a draft pick or trade that you made and now I have to make it work,” Poles said. “I think I mentioned before that the locker room always knows so we try to hold true to that.”
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