JUST IN; Ben Johnson Throws Shade at Kyler Gordon + Explains DJ Moore’s Low Usage & New Drama Update

The Chicago Bears took another tough hit this week as cornerback Kyler Gordon suffered yet another groin-related injury, continuing a frustrating pattern that has followed him through the 2025 season. For a defense built on versatility and matchup flexibility, losing Gordon again is a significant setback. His ability to shift inside and outside, mirror top receivers, and disguise coverages has been one of the keys to the Bears’ defensive structure. Now, with his groin re-aggravated, the Bears face the difficult task of reshuffling their secondary at a time when every rep matters.

Head Coach Ben Johnson addressed the situation, but his comments drew attention for more than just medical updates. When asked about Gordon’s availability, Johnson offered a subtle but pointed remark: “I don’t know the individual well because he’s not out there.” Whether intentional or not, the line landed as a bit of shade — signaling the frustration the coaching staff likely feels with Gordon’s recurring absences. While Johnson didn’t elaborate further, the message was clear: availability matters, and the Bears need their young corner to be on the field, not rehabbing the same injury again.

Another major storyline coming out of the Week 14 loss to the Packers centered around the unusually low usage of DJ Moore. Fans were stunned to see Moore finish with just one catch, and Johnson admitted he was shocked too. According to him, the game plan actually had Moore positioned for one of the highest workloads of any offensive player. Johnson explained that DJ ran strong routes all day — the opportunities simply didn’t materialize due to timing issues, pressure, and a lack of overall offensive rhythm. He admitted he didn’t realize Moore had just a single reception until he checked the stat sheet postgame, adding that it was “not the intent at all.”

The rivalry tension didn’t stop there. The awkward postgame handshake between Ben Johnson and Matt LaFleur quickly went viral, with both coaches later addressing the moment in the most diplomatic way possible. Johnson downplayed it, LaFleur did the same, but fans saw the stiffness and hesitation. In a rivalry as old and emotional as Bears–Packers, these small moments fuel the fire — especially with two young, competitive coaches leading their franchises. Whether it was frustration from the game, disagreement over late-game decisions, or simply competitive heat, the moment will be remembered when these teams meet again.

This video breaks down all the top Bears storylines — from Gordon’s injury setback and Johnson’s eye-opening comment, to the surprising DJ Moore usage, to the brewing tension between the two NFC North head coaches. With the Bears fighting to stabilize their season and keep playoff hopes alive, these developments are shaping the urgency of the final stretch.

We dive deep into what Gordon’s injury means for the secondary, how DJ Moore can get re-integrated, and how Ben Johnson must recalibrate the offense and locker room as Chicago looks to rebound. Stick around for full analysis, breakdowns, and reactions from one of the most important weeks of the season.

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We get a Kyler Gordon injury update from Ben Johnson and he throws a little bit of shade at the veteran defensive back as he’s frustrated he’s not on the field more. Along with that too, Ben Johnson addresses what happened with DJ Moore in the game plan on Sunday versus Green Bay. And finally, Matt Lafur and Ben Johnson both address their beef in this current handshake situation that happened after the game. But before we get more into today’s show, going through this loaded report, hit that like button if you still love this Chicago Bears team. And along with that too, are you concerned about Kyler Gordon’s health as a whole? Comment Y for yes or N for no. New giveaway as we have the new giveaway winner announced at the end of today’s show. But if you like this video, comment Y for end or yes for no and subscribe. You enter to win an autograph. Colston Love mini helmet. Here we go. So Kyler Gordon’s health concern. Well, he was ended up being ruled out right before Bears versus Packers with a groin injury. Kylo Gordon, who has been injured with hamstring injuries, groin injuries, you name it all throughout the last couple of seasons, continues to have it here in 2025. And we missed him tremendously versus Green Bay as he was part of the game plan. It was tweeted out by Casey Carlson of Fox saying Kyler Gordon suffered a groin injury in pregame warouts and is out versus the Packers per the Bears. Obviously not an ideal situation by any means here, but this is just insane. I just got to put it out there. This is getting frustrated now as a fan. And I can hear Ben Johnson’s frustration as well with this entire situation. Kyler Gordon, who we just extended, supposedly going to be a big part of Dennis Allen’s defensive plan. He’s barely been out there this year. And going through the stats, I mean, we just signed him to a threeyear $40 million extension to make him one of the highest paid guys in the league. And this is what he’s provided so far in three appearances for the Bears this year. Seven total tackles, five solo, and only one fumble recovery. I would have rather have resigned Nan Wright at this point. I know that’s an aggressive take, but Nan Wright has eight takeaways at the moment. He’s actually out there every single game. Kyler Gordon just can’t seem to take care of his body and stay on the field. Well, you know, Ben Johnson himself, Kyler’s a really good player and we’re better when he’s out on the field. going through a little bit more of that. You do miss that when it happens in pregame like that. It also takes you down a man going into the game, too. If you know what that going into the game, at least you can have someone else up on the active roster for you to fill in and beat another body. But that being said, Ben Johnson did have a little bit more to say because this is just insane because Ben Johnson said, “I wish I had a better feel for the individual talking about Kyler Gordon, but with him being out as much as he has, I really haven’t gotten to see him on the field and competing and get to know him like I’d like to at this point yet.” Oh man. I mean, like that right there is like holy moly. That’s not good. I mean, like, he’s like the individual. I don’t know him. We were almost at the playoffs at this point and he still doesn’t know Kyler Gordon. And I don’t blame him because Kyler hasn’t been out there at all. Just like the trainers, Kyler Gordon has just as much responsibility to take care of himself. And I got to say this, CJ Gardenner Johnson doesn’t do his own coverage. We missed him tremendously, especially on that touchdown to Christian Watson. Very tough overall um situation and that was a big part of the game. So, the resigning, I’m going to be honest, is looking like a mistake. That’s a hot take right now. That is a frustration emotional standpoint, but I mean the numbers don’t lie. Look how much we are paying him starting next year. Threeyear, $40 million contract with a 13.33 333 average salary. So, well over $13 million a year. We 31.256 million guaranteed. Final year of the contract is 2028. We’ve gotten an absolutely terrible return for this so far. Kyler Gordon has to find a way to stay healthy. No if ends or buts. It’s getting out of control how much this guy’s been out cuz he’s supposed to be a big part of this team. And I don’t even know what he did. I wish that there was a video footage of just showing what happened. But wishing him a speedy recovery, but still very frustrating overall. I want to hear your guys’ thoughts on it. Guys, we are very close to our next subscriber goal of 41,600. If you guys haven’t already, please could like, comment, and subscribe to enter to win that Coulson Lovelin mini helmet. Winner will be announced on Monday. But we also have again the winner of the DeAndre Swift mini helmet at the end of this video. So then we go into DJ Moore’s low usage. Ben Johnson had the opportunity to speak to the media exactly what happened because the highest paid wide receiver on the Bears roster right now is barely being used. That’s a big problem to say the least. So Courtney Kronin of ESPN had to say, “With Roma Dunce out with a foot injury, the Bears expected DJ Moore to see plenty of action in Green Bay.” The opposite was true. Three targets, one catch, negative four yards. Well, that’s not ideal by any means. And Ben Johnson had to say, “We just couldn’t give him the ball.” Which that was not the intent. I thought going into the game, we might have had more for him than any other player in the offense. was a little surprised at the end when I saw the stat sheet for one catch like he had and it’s not ideal for what we’re paying him either. This is a big problem. This is two players backto-back that I’m talking about that are having major contract issues because of how much they’re paid and what and I don’t blame DJ Moore because there are a lot of targets on this offense. Caleb is learning this offense. But DJ Moore had a lot better stats before Caleb Williams was here with Carolina with Justin Fields for one year. We traded him for a plus thousand yard receiving guy. He’s had that one time in Chicago and that was before Caleb Williams was here. And Caleb Williams and him have to get on the same page. I think Caleb Williams is obviously the much better quarterback than Justin Fields. That being said, he needs to find a way to get to his wide receiver one, keep him happy, but also help spread the offense because that causes more coverage on DJ Moore moving forward. And going through DJ Moore’s contract, 4-year, $110 million extension right here. Along with that, too, averaging 27.5 million average in salary, a 43.65 million guaranteed out of that contract in the final year 2030. Clearly Ryan Ples had him in the plans, but that being said, plans aren’t shown on the stat sheet. 39 receptions off 66 targets, 12.8 yards per catch with three receiving touchdowns, only 24 first downs. This cannot continue to happen. DJ Moore came here to play. The guy is an absolute competitor. I think that DJ Moore should be the guy that gets the first pass every single game. Throw it on a slant route. Let it be known that they’re going to have him involved in the offense. Throw it downfield for him. We haven’t seen DJ Moore have a giant boom play at all this year unless he’s made the opportunity himself. We’ve seen it in the backfield. We see him on screens which stopped the screens by the way. They’re not working with Luke Katy. They’re not working right now with Ben Johnson at the moment. But not I mean they’re happening more often, but still they’re weren’t effective versus Green Bay. So DJ Moore came here to play. You need to feed him the ball. He is one of your best players on offense. That is what’s going to make this offense a lot better. So going a little bit more into this one, the postgame drama. Now, I I just want to put this out here is that this was a competitive matchup. There were things said in the off season from Ben Johnson. He said before that he doesn’t like the Green Bay Packers. He said in his opening press conference that he enjoys beating Matt Lafur twice a year. Well, that’s not going to happen this year because the Bears lost to the Packers. I love the confidence that Ben Johnson brought and I think he almost did beat the Packers. At least he gave a great game in his first time as a Bears head coach. But he seemed fine to me at first after the interaction. It was less than 10° outside at the time with the wind chills between them and they are going to see each other in two weeks anyway. So, they can probably talk a little bit more. But then Tom Brady of Fox came in here and brought up a little bit of a perspective from a player. He said, “I’m sure it was the icy it was as icy as a temperature. Both teams had to go out and buy extra bullets and boards going into this week. There was a lot of material both ways. You’ve got coaches talking smack going more into it. It was just the way it’s going to go. Those two young coaches are going to be in these in these programs for a while. We’re going to see some great matchups between these teams. And listen, that’s as expected. I mean, like, if there’s beef, good. It’s Bears versus Packers for crying out loud. I don’t want to see Matt Laflur and Ben Johnson courts out at a Bucks game like Matt Eberlu did. Thought that was so strange. But let me say this, too. Laflur did not like the comments at the beginning of the year that Ben Johnson made during his press conference. Lor kind of looked over during the March meetings down in Florida and was like, “What did he say?” Okay, I don’t really know him that well, but I’m sure he’s just doing it for fan interaction, which I was like, “All right, Matt Ford, chill out a little bit.” But they there is beef there, but it’s a quick handshake after the day. Matt Lefor literally instantly came outside. It was a quick handshake. We’ll see him again in two weeks. And it’s less than 10 degrees outside again. So, it was a very cold game. Obviously, these guys didn’t want to be out here all that long. And the uh players didn’t either. And then Ben Johnson also said, “Feels like every handshake I’ve had at the game.” So just squashing it right there. Overall, all good. This is a good rivalry. Lot of fun as expected. So don’t look at too it. But wanted to put it out there for you guys that there is no crazy other beef besides it was a quick handshake and these guys will see each other in less than two weeks. They’re going to see him Saturday at football in Chicago. So guys, with that, as promised, the winner of the autographed DeAndre Swift mini helmet is Rick Q6R. Rick, thank you for entering the giveaway. Make sure that you check your email. We’ve shot you one already, so make sure you check that out so you can answer and we can get you your autograph mini helmet shipped to you right before the holidays. But guys, with that, thank you as always for tuning in to this episode of Just Another Year Chicago Bears. If you haven’t already, if you please like, comment, and subscribe. Thank you as always for this episode of Just Another Year Chicago Bears. My name is Brody and as always, bear down,