LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — The Chicago Bears' secondary could soon look more like coaches anticipated when training camp began, thanks to the return of nickel cornerback Kyler Gordon.
The Bears on Wednesday started a 21-day practice window to determine if they would bring Gordon back from the physically unable to perform list, and he has been a full participant in practice since then.
“You know, obviously when we get to a point where he’s been able to get himself into football shape, be able to stay healthy, I see him being back out on the field for us and helping us win a lot of games,” defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said Thursday.
The Bears signed Gordon to a three-year, $40 million contract extension in 2024. Last year, he was limited to three regular-season games and two playoff games because of a groin injury.
Gordon had been participating in offseason activities but suffered a calf injury and never fully recovered. He missed all of training camp while receiving personal medical and training help away from the team.
“I mean, I’ve got extreme confidence in what he can do when he’s out there on the field,” Allen said. “And so that’s never wavered. I think as we all know, the biggest thing for Kyler is for him to be healthy and be able to stay healthy. And so that’s kind of where the focus is.”
Gordon’s return was anticipated, even though earlier comments about him by coach Ben Johnson had been shrouded with uncertainty.
“I think it was probably sometime last week, maybe the week before they said he’d be back in the building this week and ready to start practicing,” Allen said. “I think really, right now where we’re at, he’s got to ramp up and get himself into football shape. We did a little extra work with him (Wednesday). I thought he looked good, I thought the way he went out there and practiced I thought was good to see. He moved around really well.
“I think the biggest thing is it just takes some time to get him into football shape. We will do that. We got 21 days to figure it out and make a decision and we will use whatever time we need to evaluate where he’s at. Hopefully he’ll be ready sooner rather than later. I think he’s a player that can help us.”
Gordon has five career interceptions and 17 pass breakups. Allen likes to use him blitzing out of the slot to augment the pass rush.
Getting Gordon back could at least postpone a decision about benching rookie cornerback Malik Muhammad or moving him to outside cornerback in place of veteran Tyrique Stevenson. Muhammad had been playing slot cornerback with Gordon out.
Quarterbacks Tyson Bagent and Case Keenum both practiced Thursday and the Bears are not saying who will start Sunday against the Jets, with starter Caleb Williams still sidelined by a hamstring injury.
Bagent suffered a concussion on Sept. 20 against the Vikings and couldn’t make his first start since 2023, while Keenum made his first since 2023 against the Eagles.
Bagent said he was torn at first about reporting the concussion symptoms, knowing it would cost him a rare chance to play. He consulted with his agent about it.
“I’ve never had a concussion before, so I was really unsure of the symptoms,” he said. “But after having conversations with him, obviously your brain is far more important than being able to play in a game, no matter how high stakes the game is. So, I think we made the right decision, and I think because of that I was able to clear myself a lot sooner than I would have been able to if I didn’t say anything.”
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Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson watches warmups before an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Chicago, Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
BERLIN (AP) — Jürgen Klopp savored his first win as Germany coach and Portugal did just fine without Cristiano Ronaldo in the Nations League on Thursday.
Florian Wirtz starred as Germany defeated Serbia 2-0 in Munich for Klopp’s first win at the third attempt — staving off an unwanted record.
The 59-year-old Klopp was on the verge of becoming the first Germany coach not to win any of his first three games after opening with a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands last week before Sunday’s shock 1-0 defeat to Greece.
But his team produced a disciplined and intensive game against Serbia, illustrating the high-pressure soccer Klopp wants to instill.
“That’s going in my archive. We’ll make a video out of it now," Klopp said. “That's how we want to play.”
Derry Scherhant, Nick Woltemade and Serge Gnabry all missed good chances for Germany before Tom Bischof broke the deadlock in the 39th on the rebound after Wirtz struck the post.
Klopp sent on Cologne star Said El Mala for his debut after the break. Goalkeeper Jonas Urbig and Freiburg forward Scherhant were already making their Germany debuts.
But it was Wirtz who made it 2-0 from Maximilian Mittelstädt’s cross, taking it past a defender with his first touch and sending it inside the right post with his next.
“It was important to win again, just for the spirit in the team, and to send a signal out that we're good football players and also a good football nation," Wirtz said. “Definitely a step in the right direction.”
Tijjani Reijnders scored late as the Netherlands fought back to draw 2-2 with Greece in the other Group A2 match — in Thessaloniki.
Fotis Ioannidis scored one goal and set up the other for Greece. Virgil van Dijk netted before the hour mark and Reijnders equalized in the 89th.
The Netherlands also needed a late equalizer against Germany.
Greece remains the surprise leader of Group A2 after away victories over Serbia and Germany.
João Félix sealed Portugal’s 4-2 win over Denmark in Copenhagen, where the visitors were without Ronaldo after he walked out on the team the day before after an apparent rift with coach Jorge Jesus. It has fueled speculation it may be the end for the veteran star.
Gonçalo Ramos, who has taken the 41-year-old forward’s place, set up João Cancelo’s opener, then responded with Portugal’s second goal two minutes after Mikkel Damsgaard equalized in the 23rd.
Rasmus Højlund drew Denmark level again in the 53rd, only for Vitinha to restore Portugal’s lead with a near-post header to Bruno Fernandes’ free kick in the 67th.
Félix made sure of the win in the 87th.
For once, Erling Haaland didn’t score as Wales defeated 10-man Norway 2-1 for its first win in Group A4.
Haaland failed to score for only the second time in his last 18 competitive appearances for his country. He has 65 goals in 58 appearances.
Oscar Bobb got the opener for the visitors in Cardiff, but Daniel James equalized before the break and Norway defender Torbjørn Heggem was sent off for fouling him, before Neco Williams made it 2-1 from the resultant free kick.
Protestors calling for Ireland to boycott its upcoming second game against Israel on Sunday interrupted the team's match against Austria by throwing tennis balls with Palestinian flags onto the field during the first half.
One man with a Palestinian flag tried running onto the field before he was tackled by stewards.
Troy Parrott scored two goals — including a brilliant solo opener — only for Alexander Prass and Michael Gregoritsch to respond in the second half for Austria.
Israel and Kosovo drew 0-0 in the other Group B3 game.
Also, visiting Liechtenstein held Azerbaijan 0-0 earlier in Group D2.
See AP’s full soccer coverage here
Germany's head coach Jurgen Klopp arrives prior to the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Germany and Serbia in Munich, Germany, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Denmark's Rasmus Nissen Kristensen, left, and Portugal's Rafael Leao in action during the Nations League soccer match between Denmark and Portugal, in Copenhagen, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. (Sebastian Elias Uth/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
Germany's Florian Wirtz, center, and Serbia's Filip Kostic, left, challenge for the ball during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Germany and Serbia in Munich, Germany, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Germany's Florian Wirtz, second right, scores his side's second goal during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Germany and Serbia in Munich, Germany, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Germany's Florian Wirtz celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's second goal during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Germany and Serbia in Munich, Germany, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Germany's head coach Jurgen Klopp arrives prior to the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Germany and Serbia in Munich, Germany, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
