The Chicago Bears have finalized another roster decision as they close in on their 2026 opening-day lineup, parting ways with cornerback Jaylon Jones through an injury settlement that removed him from injured reserve.

Jones, now 28, had been with the organization since 2022 and spent most of his time working as a nickel defender and special-teams contributor.

The timing of the move stands out because it arrives while the team is still sorting through uncertainty at the same position.

Kyler Gordon remains the most prominent name in that conversation. Last offseason the Bears locked him into a three-year, $40 million extension, yet a lingering soft-tissue injury has kept him off the practice field for months.

Chicago placed him on the physically unable to perform list, which means he will miss at least the first four games of the regular season.

General manager Ryan Poles struck a measured tone when asked whether Gordon would appear at all in 2026, saying he still holds hope but that Gordon must continue working to return to football shape.

Nickel corner is a high-value role in Dennis Allen’s defense, so the absence of both Gordon and now Jones leaves the staff searching for reliable options. Clark Phillips III, acquired in the Gervon Dexter trade, is one candidate.

Allen has already indicated that Phillips, who has played mostly outside lately, could slide inside and see snaps at nickel once he absorbs the scheme.

Fourth-round rookie Malik Muhammad is another possibility. With Gordon missing all of training camp, Muhammad received extra work in the slot even though he lined up primarily on the outside in college.

Coaches acknowledge that opposing quarterbacks will test the young defender, yet they believe he can hold his own. Veteran Cam Lewis, signed this offseason, also remains in the mix. He has experience at both nickel and safety and has already shifted between those spots depending on injuries and the addition of Xavier Woods.

Whoever wins the job will be asked to meet the communication and coverage standards Allen demands. The Bears have not publicly outlined a single starter, but the combination of Phillips’s versatility, Muhammad’s opportunity, and Lewis’s familiarity gives the coaching staff several paths forward while they wait to see whether Gordon can eventually rejoin the group.

For now the organization has chosen to move on from Jones rather than keep him on the roster through the early weeks of the season.