The Chicago Bears are set to take on the Baltimore Ravens this Sunday without their starting cornerbacks Tyrique Stevenson and Kyler Gordon, both of whom have been ruled out for Week 8.
Stevenson suffered a shoulder injury during Chicago’s 26-14 victory against the New Orleans Saints and did not finish the game. He was sidelined for practice throughout the week and has been described by head coach Ben Johnson as “day-to-day, week-to-week.” Tight end Cole Kmet, who is dealing with a back injury, will also miss the first game of his career against the Ravens but will not be placed on injured reserve.
Gordon’s situation is similarly concerning; he participated fully in practice on Wednesday but suffered injuries to both his groin and calf during the week. After being limited on Thursday, he was a non-participant on Friday, leading to his exclusion from the matchup against Baltimore.
With both Stevenson and Gordon sidelined, the Bears will be missing all three of their starting cornerbacks, as Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson is currently out indefinitely while recovering from core muscle surgery he underwent in September.
As the Bears defense looks to build on its league-leading tally of 16 takeaways, they will face the added challenge of contending with Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who is dealing with a hamstring issue. Jackson returned to full practice on Friday following limited participation earlier in the week, and he remains the only player on the Ravens’ final injury report with a questionable designation.
Coach Johnson commented on Jackson, stating, “We’ll approach it that he’s starting for them. That’s our starting point.” With the game approaching, the Bears will need to adjust strategically to address the loss of key defensive players while hoping to maintain their momentum on defense.