Kyler Gordon Relishes Role as ‘Mini QB’ in Chicago Bears Defense

Kyler Gordon, Chicago Bears

Chicago Bears nickelbacks coach David Overstreet touted Kyler Gordon’s ability to handle his various responsibilities.

The Bears have missed that over the past two weeks with Gordon leaving the Bears’ win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 6 with a hamstring injury. He could not suit up for their loss to the Washington Commanders in Week 8. After logging a limited session on Friday, though, Gordon is questionable for Week 9.

The Bears are visiting the Arizona Cardinals and could use Gordon’s versatility against nimble QB Kyler Murray. Gordon’s ability to play the run, pass, and blitz is only part of what he does for the Bears and he relishes every opportunity.

Kyler Gordon Has ‘Keys to the Car’ for Bears Defense

Bears’ Kyler Gordon ‘Locked in 24/7’

“I’m locked in 24/7. It’s a week[-long] process,” Gordon told Clocker Sports on Friday. “That’s part of my routine to be on every single detail: Getting up, having meetings with him [Overstreet], making sure that this is this, this, this. First-down details, third-down details, red zone details, my communication skills, me already having to know what play is coming ahead and already thinking ahead of the play to get communication to people quicker. There’s a bunch of different things that I go over to be on top of my details.

“My position, it’s almost like a mini QB position. So I enjoy it. I have fun. I got the keys to the car a little bit. So, yeah, I’m gonna go.”

Overstreet says that confidence is a requirement of the job.

“You have to be confident because you’re controlling everything,” Overstreet told Clocker Sports in September. “I tell him I say, ‘Hey, when the nickel’s on the field, you’re in charge, alright?’ I said, ‘You’re in charge of the secondary. All the calls and checks going to come from Kyler.

“He makes all those checks and different coverages. Kyler had to do that. The way we’re gonna match things up, Kyler has to make that call.”

It is unclear if Gordon will return this week but the Bears could definitely use him.

Andrew Billings Shares Past Experiences With Bears Locker Room

The Bears are defensive tackle Andrew Billings’ fourth NFL team. A fourth-round pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2016, he has also spent time with the Cleveland Browns and Las Vegas Raiders.

Billings’ journey has left him with a wealth of experiences to share with his current teammates.

Those experiences include “a lot” of losses. Billings has never enjoyed a winning season in his career. The day after is never an easy thing.

“Monday’s always going to be hard from a loss,” Billings told Clocker Sports on Friday. “But the opportunity to do it again and win is great. So I think it’s easy. I think it’s easy to move on and focus up.

“Everybody here knows what needs to be done. We only got, what, one rookie playing? So for everybody else, we lean on what we do. We pick each other up though, and that’s when being a vet helps. Even need picking up sometimes. A vet might [say], ‘Hey, look. I’ve been here before.’ And especially me. I’ve been on teams where we lost a lot So I know how to move on to the next week.”

Billings is also one of 12 players with more than five years of NFL experience. He, fellow defensive lineman DeMarcus Walker, and safety Kevin Byard are the only three on defense.

It has left him as a willing sage.

“I definitely see myself using my experience a lot more than others, because it’s just been up and down,” Billings said. “I’ve been on some teams that didn’t win, losing records. And I’ve also bounced around. So I’ve kind of won and lost a lot. So yeah, I definitely take it upon myself, anytime I can help, I’m gonna help.”

Billings’ top position mates – Gervon Dexter Sr. and Zacch Pickens – are both in their second seasons.

What message does he pass on to them when things are going awry?

“Let’s focus on if we have a bad play as a defensive unit, let’s go back there and do it again, and let’s correct it,” Billings said. “We got bad plays as individuals, clear it and move on to the next place. There’s always another chance to prove yourself right in the game.”

Billings is in his second year in Chicago, one short of tying his longest stint with any team. And with his two-year, $8 million contract extension, he will match that mark in 2025.

That stability is not lost on the veteran.

“It feels great. It feels great. It’s something you always want. But sometimes you gotta work harder for it. That’s just what it is. That ended up being my case. And I’m here now, I’m still in the NFL. I feel great. So I’m happy to be here. Really happy to be here. And to be here year after year is great. It really is.”

Matt Eberflus Embraces Big-Picture Perspective

The Bears are a team that leans into the mindset that last week is last week and it is on to the next. But head coach Matt Eberflus said it was important to keep the bigger picture in mind, especially coming out of tough losses such as they experienced in Week 8.

“That’s the big thing, right? We’re 3-1 [the last four weeks] just like Arizona is. So we’re – tale of the tape – we’re both in the same position. So it’s important that we focus on that. We did have some good football in the last month leading up to the bye, and also in that game [versus Washingto] we had some really good football at the end on offense and defensively played really well at times,” Eberflus told Clocker Sports on Friday.

“Again, you got to build off the successes and also work on things you didn’t do well. That’s important that you do that.”

Sunday will show how well the Bears have been able to regroup.