Chicago Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon has good cause to need to play in Thursday’s preseason recreation in opposition to the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field.
The second-round choose sat out six coaching camp practices and the preseason opener Saturday with an undisclosed harm, so he was itching to return to the apply discipline Monday at Halas Hall.
The risk of creating his NFL preseason debut in his house state with household and pals readily available is much more thrilling for Gordon. He was born and went to highschool about 35 minutes from Seattle and performed faculty soccer at Washington, the place he totaled 98 tackles, three sacks, two interceptions and 14 passes defended over 4 seasons.
“I’ll be ready,” Gordon mentioned. “I think it was meant to be. It’s God’s plan. I’m just excited. It’s a cool thing to be able to say it happened in my life.”
Gordon was certainly one of a number of injured gamers to return to apply Monday in no less than a restricted capability, taking reps at nickel again, the place he performed most frequently earlier than he was damage. Also returning have been operating again David Montgomery, tight finish Cole Kmet, large receiver Velus Jones Jr., cornerbacks Kindle Vildor and Duke Shelley and defensive lineman Angelo Blackson.
Per coach Matt Eberflus’ coverage, Gordon didn’t reveal what stored him out greater than every week. He additionally missed time through the offseason program with an harm.
Coaches have thrown lots at Gordon within the three-plus months since he was drafted, asking him to apply at each exterior cornerback and nickel. Defensive coordinator Alan Williams mentioned final week Gordon displayed “veteran habits” whereas he was injured, staying attentive in conferences, bringing in questions and staying late to observe movie.
Gordon mentioned he tried to remain ready by taking psychological reps whereas on the sideline.
“I talked to Coach about getting the play sheet,” Gordon mentioned. “(I tried to) make sure I’m still locked in to practice and keeping my eyes on every play, what’s going on. Taking mental reps and putting myself in the positions out there and making sure I’m staying on my reads, my keys, just staying on top of everything with film and all that.”
Gordon took within the Soldier Field ambiance throughout Saturday’s recreation in opposition to the Kansas City Chiefs and mentioned he considered how he wished to be defending in opposition to quarterback Patrick Mahomes “every play.”
“I was like, ‘Ah, I’m ready to compete,’” Gordon mentioned. “I want to be the dude, the obstacle for him.’”
Instead, Gordon obtained to observe as rookie security Jaquan Brisker, a fellow second-round choose, put collectively a pleasant outing. In one second-quarter sequence, Brisker — who sat out apply Monday — recorded a sort out, a sort out for a loss and a close to interception.
“I knew he was going to do his thing,” Gordon mentioned. “And it was exciting to see him go out there and do all that, be physical and tough, get his hands on the ball. It was cool. I was happy for him.”
Like Gordon, Jones harassed the significance of taking psychological reps whereas the third-round choose sat out every week of practices and the Chiefs recreation with an harm.
With large receivers Byron Pringle, N’Keal Harry and David Moore out with accidents, Jones might have a superb alternative to indicate what he can do on offense — on high of his return abilities — if he could make it again for preseason motion. Jones didn’t reveal whether or not he expects to play Thursday, however he has tried to remain prepared.
“I’m just always at night visualizing myself making plays on certain play calls,” Jones mentioned. “I picture seeing myself in there when one of the guys runs a route and thinking about how they looked in their route, the details. Or I can take something from their game, something I might like.”
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com