‘Right back where I left off’: Gordon stars in return for Bears against Falcons

There were times during training camp that the Bears seemed mystified by nickel cornerback Kyler Gordon and his readiness — or even willingness — to return from a calf injury.

It’s still not clear to the outside world how much clarity Gordon offered in words — at least judging by his postgame news conference Sunday — but his play during a 31-23 win over the Atlanta Falcons spoke volumes.

After missing the first five games while on the reserve/physically unable to perform list, Gordon marked his season debut by sacking Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. three times and forcing him to fumble twice, the latter of which the Bears recovered to essentially seal the win.

He became the first defensive back to post three sacks and two forced fumbles in a game since at least 1994, according to the league.

“Just picked it right back where I left off,” he said. “Just continue to stack.”

“He was ready to play,” coach Ben Johnson said. “We had a week last week that was probably different than most, just in terms of not knowing who was going to be active, who was going to be playing for us. Quarterback position all the way throughout the roster.

“So I talked with Kyler (on Saturday and said): ‘I think we want to activate you. Are you ready to go?’ And he said, ‘Absolutely.’ And he sure enough was.’”

Gordon said he simply wanted to “contribute, add to this team and help drive the direction we’re going to go, and that’s what I did.”

But the fifth-year veteran’s ability — more like availability — to help drive the direction of the team has been in question in recent seasons.

Gordon missed 14 games last season with calf and groin injuries, though he played in both playoff games in January. Then he was absent from most of the offseason program this spring and all of training camp.

“I’ve never been through that before,” he said. “Just learning to have that delusional optimism. Just use that.

“As much as it sucked, it was a nice little checkout for myself to reinforce all the things I believe in: keeping a strong mental, keeping that positive, keep grinding.”

Gordon opted to rehab with private doctors away from the team. His absence, coupled with comments from the Bears, bred speculation that there was a disconnect — if not discord — between him and the team.

“We’re still trying to get that availability piece going,” Johnson said June 3 during an organized team activity. “We know he’s a good player when he’s out there, but trust level is a huge thing for this team, for this coaching staff, for the locker room, and you can only develop that trust by being available.”

When asked Sept. 1 if Gordon would play for the Bears at some point this season, general manager Ryan Poles said: “I don’t know. I hope so. I still have hope there.”

Those comments were posed to Gordon after the game Sunday.

“I can’t control what someone else says,” he said. “But end of the day, I’m going to go out there and do my job to my best ability and be the best player. … Unfortunately, it is what it is.”

He said he didn’t see any comments questioning his commitment to the Bears.

“That’s just the nature of the world,” he said. “I don’t see everything. I’ve got a pretty closed circle.”

After Gordon’s defensive performance, his teammates took a victory lap on his behalf.

“It was a blessing,” cornerback Jaylon Johnson said. “It was a movie. My dawg came back after all the talk, all the chatter. Worked his ass off, came back and balled.”

Said wide receiver Rome Odunze: “You think you’ve seen it all from that guy, and then he goes out there and does himself like that. I’m standing on the sideline just watching him play, man. He’s one of those players that gets you out of your seat for sure.”

The Bears dialed up the nickel blitzes that have become Gordon’s calling card.

Early in the third quarter, Gordon sacked Penix on second-and-9, putting the Falcons in a third-and-15 that they couldn’t convert.

Later in the third, Gordon strip-sacked Penix on third-and-2 at the Atlanta 2-yard line. Center Ryan Neuzil recovered the fumble, but the Falcons punted and the Bears scored on the next series to go up 28-7.

In the fourth quarter, with the Falcons a touchdown and 2-point conversion away from tying, Gordon shot off the edge again and strip-sacked Penix for an 8-yard loss on third-and-16.

This time, linebacker Devin Bush recovered the fumble at the Atlanta 28-yard line. The Bears ran out the clock to seal the win.

According to NFL Pro’s Next Gen Stats, Gordon rushed the passer eight times and recorded a career-high five “quick pressures,” rushes that clock in under 2.5 seconds.

“Kyler (has) got so much energy all the time, it feels like every week he’s ready to explode,” Odunze said. “It was just another game of Spider-man doing Spider-man things.”

Safety Cam Lewis said he had been telling Gordon he was “so eager and excited to watch him play live.”

“Three sacks, two forced fumbles today?” Lewis said. “Can’t make that (expletive) up.”

Gordon help juice up a defense that took its share of lumps after taking a 31-7 beating by the Green Bay Packers in Week 5 at Lambeau Field.

The defense did let Penix direct back-to-back touchdown drives and 2-point conversions in the fourth quarter to make it a one-score game.

“We kind of slipped a little bit in the fourth quarter,” Lewis said. “We got a little bit too lax.”

But the defense looked dominant during the first three quarters. Dynamic running back Bijan Robinson was held to nine carries for 61 yards. The Falcons went 3 of 12 (25%) on third down and lost three of four fumbles.

Defensive end Daniel Hardy and safety Dillon Thieneman notched their first career sacks, making it five on the day.

Hardy, normally used almost exclusively on special teams, got extra run on the defensive line with Montez Sweat suspended Tuesday under the performance-enhancing drug policy and Dayo Odeyingbo placed on injured reserve Saturday.

“Very, very thankful that my coaches put that trust in me,” Hardy said. “Last year we’re moving around different positions, and in my personal opinion it didn’t work out that great. But I was really thankful that they gave me a shot and I was able to step up.”

Hardy wasn’t the only special teamer who got defensive reps. Josh Blackwell and Elijah Hicks saw playing time in the secondary with Tyrique Stevenson Sr. sidelined and Lewis leaving temporarily to be checked for a concussion after making a headfirst tackle on Robinson in the second quarter.

“We know what the deal was — we practiced like we’re going to play every week,” Hardy said. “Shoot, we do pop quizzes during the week, and we ask all the practice squad guys what the look is this week.

“So everybody’s ready to play at all times. Everybody’s ready to step up. That’s the culture of this group: no drop-off.”