By Townhall Chicago News Staff
Chicago Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon registered 3.0 sacks and two forced fumbles on Sunday in his season debut, clinching a 31-23 victory over the Atlanta Falcons one day after being activated from the physically unable to perform list.
Gordon’s performance made him the second Bears defensive back to record 3.0 sacks in a game, joining Todd Bell, who accomplished the feat Oct. 2, 1983. He also became just the second NFL defensive back with at least 3.0 sacks and two forced fumbles in a single game, joining the Houston Oilers’ Rod Kush on Sept. 15, 1985, according to the team’s website.
“It was everything I wanted,” Gordon said after the game, according to the team’s website. “I wanted to be on the field and contribute, add to this team and help the direction we’re going to go, and that’s what I did.”
Gordon had been on the PUP list since before training camp with a calf injury. He returned to practice Sept. 30 but was not activated until Saturday, Oct. 17.
His three sacks and two forced fumbles on Sunday doubled his career totals in both categories. Gordon entered the game with 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in 45 games since the Bears selected him in the second round of the 2022 draft, according to the team.
All of Gordon’s sacks came in the second half against Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. On second-and-9 from the Bears’ 34 early in the third quarter, Gordon dropped Penix for a 6-yard loss. Later in the period, he sacked Penix on third-and-6 from the Atlanta 10, forcing a fumble that the Falcons recovered at their own 3-yard line.
His biggest play came with the game on the line. After the Falcons had closed to within 31-23, Penix completed a 9-yard pass to receiver Zachariah Branch for an apparent first down on third-and-6. But Gordon drew a holding penalty on running back Bijan Robinson, nullifying the play.
On the next snap, on third-and-16, Gordon sacked Penix and forced a fumble that Bush recovered to seal the win with 2:54 remaining.
“I just kept doing my same disguises, toying with the linemen, the QB, the running back, getting their eyes off where it is coming from,” Gordon said, according to the team’s website. “I was just really working all game.”
Bears coach Ben Johnson presented Gordon with a game ball in the locker room.
“I talked with Kyler [Saturday] morning and said, ‘Hey, I think we want to activate you, are you ready to go?'” Johnson said, according to the team’s website. “And he said, ‘absolutely,’ and he sure enough was. Huge spark for the defense.”
Defensive end Daniel Hardy praised Gordon’s work ethic during his rehabilitation.
“He was working his butt off trying to get back to us, and y’all could see it out there,” Hardy said, according to the team’s website. “He wasn’t just chilling at home. He was out there grinding and working and getting his body healthy so he could come back and be the star that he is.”
The Bears host the New England Patriots on Thursday night.
