Kyler Gordon wasn’t much of a factor early in training camp due to a nagging injury. That is why he missed the preseason opener against Kansas City. He managed to return last week in time to make his debut against the Seattle Seahawks in his home state of Washington. It went pretty well as he was around the football often. Hopes were high that he could start making more of an impact as he gained confidence in the new scheme.
Those hopes might be coming to pass as Tuesday’s practice at Halas Hall was his best yet. The 2nd round pick showcased everything he could do in the space of back-to-back plays. Josh Schrock of NBC Sports Chicago provided details.
“Kyler Gordon came on a nickel blitz on first down, notching a would-be sack. Justin Jones also was in on the pressure.
On second down, Fields threw across the middle of the field for Mooney, but the ball once again was a little off. The ball was tipped by Johnson, then ricocheted off Mooney’s fingers, and eventually was snagged by Gordon for an interception. The final play saw the defense blow up a screen pass to Montgomery, forcing Fields to throw it at the back’s feet and sending the offense for some afternoon cardio.”
This goes back to Gordon always being in the right place at the right time. Never mind his evident ability to affect the game in different ways. He has the closing speed and timing to blitz the quarterback while displaying the athleticism and instincts for strong coverage.
love this effort from kyler gordon. pic.twitter.com/4xMXkzoiHa
— dave (@runbackdave) August 19, 2022
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Kyler Gordon with a nice rep in coverage 🔒 (via @ChicagoBears) pic.twitter.com/Y1cVna26Jh
— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) August 17, 2022
Kyler Gordon is already working in tandem with Jaylon Johnson.
That is a big reason the Bears are so excited. Having one good corner doesn’t make a defense effective in today’s NFL. You need two. Gordon is a rookie, but his ability is impossible to ignore. If he reaches his potential, he and Jaylon Johnson could form one of the best cornerback tandems in the league. That is undoubtedly one of the reasons Chicago drafted him. They knew what kind of a pairing they could create.
It falls to Kyler Gordon himself to take the next step. Staying healthy is the first priority. Then it’s about handling NFL wide receivers when the games get serious. Darnell Mooney has given him a formal education several times in practice. He can expect to see almost every week in this league. There will be moments he gets burned. It happens to everybody. How he responds will determine how far he goes.
LETS GO BEARS!!!!!!!!!