ATLANTA – Sunday wasn't only Kyler Gordon's first NFL game in exactly nine months. It also may have been the most impactful performance of his five-year career.
One day after being activated from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, the Bears cornerback registered 3.0 sacks and two forced fumbles, one of which resulted in a late takeaway that clinched a 31-23 win over the Falcons.
It was a long road back for Gordon, who returned to practice Sept. 30 but had been on the PUP list since before the start of training camp with a calf injury.
"[It was] everything I wanted," Gordon said after helping the Bears improve to 4-2. "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."
He did indeed, and in the process Gordon became only the second Bears defensive back with 3.0 sacks in a game, joining Todd Bell, who did so Oct. 2, 1983, and just the second NFL DB with at least 3.0 sacks and two forced fumbles, joining the Houston Oilers' Rod Kush Sept. 15, 1985.
Gordon doubled his career stats in both categories, having entered Sunday with 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in 45 games since being selected by the Bears in the second round of the 2022 draft. After the contest, he was presented with a game ball by coach Ben Johnson in the locker room.
"He was working his butt off trying to get back to us, and y'all could see it out there," said defensive end Daniel Hardy. "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."
Gordon's first big play Sunday occurred in the second quarter when he teamed up with linebacker Devin Bush to stop running back Brian Robinson Jr. for a 1-yard loss on third-and-4 from the Chicago 42.
All of Gordon's three sacks and two forced fumbles came in the second half. On second-and-9 from the Bears' 34 early in the third quarter, he dropped Penix for a 6-yard loss. Two plays later, the Falcons turned the ball over on downs.
Later in the period, Gordon sacked Penix on third-and-6 from the Atlanta 10, forcing a fumble that the Falcons recovered at their own 3 and leading to a punt.
Gordon completed the hat trick late in the game after the Falcons had crept to within one score at 31-23. On third-and-6 from the Atlanta 32, Penix completed a 9-yard pass to receiver Zachariah Branch for an apparent first down. But Gordon drew a holding penalty on running back Bijan Robinson, nullifying the play. On the next snap, on third-and-16 from the 22, Gordon sacked Penix, causing a fumble that Bush recovered to seal the win with 2:54 to play.
"I just kept doing my same disguises," Gordon said, "toying with the linemen, the QB, the running back, getting their eyes off where [the blitz] is coming from. I was just really working all game. I just got off the line quicker than him, and I felt like I was doing that the whole game."
Gordon's teammates were thrilled to see him back on the field Sunday producing game-changing plays.
"That's Spider-Man," Hardy said. "Phenomenal, dynamic athlete. Great flexibility. Speed, all that. You can't describe … the value that he has to the team, and then also just the fact that our brother is back. We've all spent a lot of time together and we're really close in that locker room, and to see him fight his way back on the field, it was great to see."
