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The Chicago Bears officially began mandatory minicamp on Tuesday as the club prepares for the 2026-27 season. With head coach Ben Johnson further evaluating his team, the defense received a mixed bag of injury updates for three key players.
Reports indicate that defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo and linebacker TJ Edwards were full participants in team drills on Tuesday, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Meanwhile, cornerback Kyler Gordon was not seen at the Bears’ first day of mandatory minicamp.
“DE Dayo Odeyingbo and LB TJ Edwards both got work in full team drills, an encouraging sign,” reported Biggs. “CB Kyler Gordon was not spotted, and his latest injury has robbed him of the majority of the offseason program.”
Odeyingbo is working his way back from a torn Achilles injury he suffered last season. The five-year veteran played just eight games in the 2025-26 campaign due to the injury. As for Edwards, the 29-year-old defender is recovering from a fractured fibula and ankle injury he suffered in the 31-27 Wild Card win over the Green Bay Packers. Both players are ramping up to potentially be available come Week 1 of the new season.
As for Gordon, the former Washington Husky is still struggling to bounce back from the soft tissue injuries that limited him to just three games last season. There is no clear timeline for his return, and the Bears have not provided much information about the injury other than that it is located in the lower body.
The Bears are scheduled to continue mandatory minicamp until June 11. After which, the players will enjoy a break before returning to training camp in late July.
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