On August 7, the Chicago Bears had two key starters — one on each side of the ball — go down with apparent injuries.
Just days before a joint practice and their first preseason game against the Miami Dolphins, cornerback Kyler Gordon and right tackle Darnell Wright both exited practice prematurely. With training camp intensifying ahead of the preseason — the Bears had one of the most physical practices in decades a few days before — it’s likely we’ll be seeing more names pop up with injuries.
Gordon left for the locker room at the start of the final period and did not return. Soon after, Wright also left after coming up awkward in a drill before walking off under his own power. The practice itself was on the lighter side, but the sight of two starters leaving in quick succession cast a bit of a shadow over the day.
Chicago Bears Cannot Afford to Lose Darnell Wright to Injury
Where Wright is concerned, he’s had two seasons of near-perfect availability, so hopefully this isn’t anything to worry about. Selected 10th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Tennessee, he quickly became a mainstay for the Bears at right tackle, starting all 17 games as a rookie and earning PFWA All-Rookie Team honors. He followed that up with a 16-game campaign in 2024.
With QB Caleb Williams under center and Ben Johnson’s new offense taking shape, Wright’s presence is going to be key. Losing him, even briefly, would force the Bears to turn to backups like Kiran Amegadjie or Theo Benedet, which would definitely bring a drop-off performance-wise.
Wright’s impact extends beyond the stat sheet. A first-team All-SEC selection in college, he brought NFL-ready traits that allowed him to adapt immediately. The best ability is availability, and Wright’s reliability has made him one of Chicago’s best building blocks on offense, which is why Thursday’s early exit generated concern.
Kyler Gordon, Like Darnell Wright, Left Practice With an Apparent Injury
Gordon’s departure was equally alarming, especially given his role in the secondary. Drafted 39th overall in 2022 out of Washington, he has developed into one of the NFL’s best slot cornerbacks, playing equally well and against the run and the pass.
In 2024, Gordon played in 15 games, starting 13. He finished with 75 tackles, five pass breakups, three fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. Pro Football Focus gave him an overall grade of 76.0, ranking 21st among 222 qualifying corners.
In April, Gordon signed a three-year, $40 million extension with $31.25 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid slot corner in NFL history at the time. His versatility — the way he can shift between nickel, boundary and even play hybrid safety — makes him an invaluable member of Chicago’s defense, and a player new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen has noted he’s excited to work with.
With Jaylon Johnson already sidelined, it’s going to be huge for Gordon to stay healthy. He has yet to play a full season over his three seasons in the NFL, so he needs to show he can stick around for the long haul.
We’ll see what Coach Johnson has to say about the health of Wright and Gordon heading into the preseason opener Sunday.
