Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles didn't sound very optimistic on Tuesday about cornerback Kyler Gordon's future with the club.
Gordon remains on the physically unable to perform list to start the season, wiping out at least the first four games of the campaign. The corner continues to deal with a calf injury that has lingered throughout the offseason. The team, including coach Ben Johnson, has voiced frustration about the corner's inability to get and stay healthy.
Poles is unsure of Gordon's current timeline. He was asked Tuesday if he believed the DB would play for the Bears again.
"I don't know. I would hope so," he said, via the team's official transcript. "I still have hope there. He's going to have to continue to work hard and get back to playing football again."
That's not exactly an encouraging response.
Poles couldn't or wouldn't expound on Gordon's future or timeline.
"I really can't. I think when people come back from injuries, there are different things that happen," he said. "Sometimes they return fast. Sometimes it's slow. It's really a timing thing and a healing thing and a confidence thing. I really don't. I wish I did, but we'll see."
The Bears signed Gordon to a three-year, $40 million contract extension last offseason. For that payday, they got three regular-season games played around two separate stints on injured reserve. The veteran was able to play in both of the Bears' playoff games, providing optimism that he might be past the injury issues. However, this offseason has been one delay after another.
"I think anytime you have an injury, and again, I'm not going to get all into the details of this, I wish I had more for you all. Anytime you have an injury and you're coming back from something there's discomfort that you have to push through. That's what it comes down to," Poles said. "We haven't been able to get over that hump, and we're not progressing as fast as we would like. That's really all I have to say about that."
Fourth-round rookie Malik Muhammad figures to see an increased role until Gordon returns. If that ever happens.
