The Chicago Bears are going to be more shorthanded than they even thought against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite both players logging full practices this week, cornerbacks Kyler Gordon and Jaylon Johnson were not activated from injured reserve and will not play.
Johnson, who has not played since Week 2 after having core muscle surgery, seems primed to return soon after two full practices. He registered a full practice on Thursday and Friday, but it not be this week.
Gordon, battling a calf issue, was a full participant in practice on Friday, but that will still not be enough to get him on the football field. Instead, the Bears will opt to rest him.
In their places, Tyrique Stevenson and Nahshon Wright have started. C.J. Gardner-Johnson has stepped in at the nickel cornerback position over the last few weeks.
Their top three inside linebackers, Noah Sewell, Tremaine Edmunds, and T.J. Edwards, all did not practice this week and are out. The Bears are shorthanded on the inside, and that signals a likelihood that the Bears will be extremely limited defensively this week. Despite the injuries in the secondary, the Bears should instead focus on their defensive backfield, which is deep and could be part of their solution to the Steelers’ matchup.
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