Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon may finally be close to a return.
The Bears have officially opened Gordon’s 21-day practice window, which means they have three weeks to activate him from the physically unable to perform list.
Although the Bears had only a walk-through practice on Wednesday, they estimated that he would have been healthy enough to fully participate if Wednesday had been a full practice.
That’s good news for a player who has been notable mostly for his absence, and for the Bears’ odd reluctance to say when — or if — he will be healthy enough to play. Gordon didn’t practice at all in training camp, didn’t play at all in the preseason, and is out at least the first four games of the regular season as part of his PUP designation.
It’s not a sure thing that Gordon will be activated off PUP, but opening the practice window at least raises that possibility.
The Bears signed Gordon to a three-year, $40 million contract extension last year, and Gordon played in just three games last season as he struggled with groin, hamstring and calf injuries. His calf is the apparent reason he hasn’t been able to do anything this year, and it will be the most-watched calf in Chicago until he either returns within the next three weeks, or is officially declared out for the season.