close
close

Association-anemone

Bite-sized brilliance in every update

NFL Notes: Bears CB Stevenson apologizes to team for missing Hail Mary
asane

NFL Notes: Bears CB Stevenson apologizes to team for missing Hail Mary

Chicago Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson has apologized to his teammates beckoning to the crowd and having his back turned when the Washington Commanders fumbled their ball winning touchdown pass for Hail Mary as time ran out and he vowed not to do it again.

“We let the moment get too big and it’s something that will never happen again and never will happen again,” he said on Monday, a day after a heartbreaking 18-15 loss.

Stevenson addressed the team without prompts during a meeting Monday. He said he wanted to let the other players know that he realized he had “let them down”.

Coach Matt Eberflus said any discipline will be handled in-house. Stevenson seemed ready for it, though he said he hasn’t met with the coaches.

“We went over the film and explained and tried to correct everything. So, honestly, I can’t give you (any) details about it, but,” he said, without finishing the sentence.

The Bears (4-3) entered Sunday’s game at Washington looking for their fourth straight win. But after struggling on offense most of the day, they took their first lead with 25 seconds left on Roschon Johnson’s 1-yard touchdown run.

The Chiefs then went from 24 to 48 before Jayden Daniels hit Noah Brown for the game-winning 52-yard touchdown. Stevenson was late getting to the play and missed a chance to prevent Zach Ertz from tipping the ball up for an uncovered Brown to catch in the end zone.

Video posted on social media showed Stevenson pointing to the stands and raising his arms in the air with his back to the game β€” he said because he was cheering with Bears fans β€” when the ball was snapped. When he realized what was happening, he sprinted towards midfield. Eberflus said Stevenson was supposed to block Brown. But instead he went up for the pass.

“I think it’s a really good lesson for everybody to learn from in terms of respecting the game,” tight end Cole Kmet said.

Stevenson posted an apology following the game on social media, saying: β€œTo Chicago and my teammates I apologize for the lack of awareness and focus… The game is not over until the zeros hit the clock. I can’t take anything for granted. Notes taken, improvements will be made.”

Two-time All-Pro Kevin Byard said the Bears “still love” Stevenson and called it a “lesson learned for him.”

“He came out to the team without anybody asking and he kind of spoke his piece and said what he had to say and I thought it was a great message, just to apologize and say he wasn’t blocked and stuff like this,” he said. “That just shows proof right there in himself. That’s all you can hope for in a situation like this and we’ll continue to support him.”

Panthers have no answers at QB

Bo Nix has already won more games in his rookie season than any quarterback in Denver Broncos history.

Hail Mary-throwing Jayden Daniels has the Washington Commanders alone atop the NFC East. And Caleb Williams is showing promise with the Chicago Bears.

CJ Stroud is, well, CJ Stroud.

And Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield are rejuvenating their careers in Minnesota and Tampa Bay.

The Carolina Panthers had or could have had any of the quarterbacks above if they had played their cards right.

That must make it extremely frustrating for owner David Tepper, who just can’t seem to find the right long-term answer at quarterback, either because his coaching staff has failed to develop his own guy or because the front the office picked the wrong guy. or they made bad personnel decisions that prevented them from getting one.

The Chiefs get a pass rusher from the Patriots

The Kansas City Chiefs acquired wide receiver Josh Uche from the New England Patriots on Monday for a 2026 sixth-round pick, giving one of the NFL’s top defenses an upgrade at a position where it was looking for help.

Uche will fill the roster spot for Jody Fortson, who is headed to injured reserve with a knee injury.

Uche was a second-round pick of the Patriots in 2020 and has 20 1/2 sacks over parts of five seasons, including two through the first seven games this season. His best year was in 2022, when Uche had 11 1/2 sacks and forced two fumbles in 15 games.

Cowboys DE Williams suspended 3 games

Cowboys running back Sam Williams was suspended three games by the NFL on Monday for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.

Williams has been on injured reserve all season after tearing the ACL in his left knee during special teams practices in August training camp. He then underwent season-ending surgery. The suspension means he will not be paid for the next three weeks, but will be eligible for reinstatement on November 11 and will not have to miss a game when he returns from injury.