Chicago Bears fans got exactly the kind of return they’d been waiting for from Kyler Gordon.
Back in the lineup Sunday after missing the first five games with a calf injury, the former UW Huskies standout made his season debut unforgettable in Chicago’s 31-23 win over the Atlanta Falcons. Gordon, a fifth-year cornerback, piled up three sacks and two forced fumbles in a performance that tied an NFL record for the most sacks by a defensive back since the stat began being tracked in 1982, according to the NFL Researcher account on X.
The numbers were stunning even before you look at the context. Gordon entered the game with 2 1/2 sacks across his previous 45 regular season appearances. On Sunday, he nearly matched that total in one afternoon, and he did it against another Husky, Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr.
His first sack came early in the third quarter on a second-and-9 snap and helped set up a turnover on downs two plays later. Gordon struck again on Atlanta’s next possession, getting to Penix just as the quarterback was about to release the ball on third down and forcing a fumble. The Falcons recovered that one, but the drive still stalled and ended in a punt on the next play.
Then came the biggest punch. With Atlanta trying to claw back in the fourth quarter and the Bears leading 31-23, Gordon came off the edge for another strip-sack of Penix. Chicago recovered the ball with 2:54 remaining, snuffing out the comeback attempt.
“Huge spark there for us on the defense,” Bears head coach Ben Johnson told reporters postgame. “I thought (defensive coordinator Dennis Allen) put him in some good spots, but he’s so twitchy, he’s very hard to block as a blitzer, tight in coverage also.”
Gordon, 26, also chipped in two quarterback hits and a tackle for loss on Bijan Robinson in the second quarter on third down.
The outing marked just the sixth game Gordon has played, including the playoffs, since signing a three-year, $40 million extension with Chicago before last season. His first year after the deal was derailed by multiple soft-tissue injuries, and he spent two separate stretches on injured reserve.
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