Tyrique Stevenson, a rookie cornerback for the Bears, was voted the NFC Defensive Player of the Week three days after he intercepted two passes against the Falcons. In addition, he recorded four pass breakups and five tackles.
Since safety Eddie Jackson previously won the award in Week 12 of 2018, Stevenson is the first Bears defender to do so in over five years. In 2017, he was the final rookie for the Bears to earn the honour. In Week 5, receiver DJ Moore was the winner of the offensive award.
Tyrique appeals to me for a few reasons, head coach Matt Eberflus stated on Wednesday. “He tackles well and is an aggressive player, to start with. That’s a crucial factor, because he’s quite tall. He can really attack because he is long, slender, and has strong lean bulk. Big backs can be tackled by him. That is evident to you. He pushes them aside. The main quality about him that I like is that.
“And the pass game’s length after that. That length is important when covering side pocket throws and deep passes. Arm measurements of 32 or 33 [inches] are not the same as 28s. He’s one of those folks, so it’s crucial that we get more of them. However, I adore his mindset and the way he approaches the game each week.
Sunday’s game against Packers quarterback Jordan Love, who was awarded NFC Offensive Player of the Week on Wednesday, will be more difficult for Stevenson.
