Jaylon Johnson Has Strong Message for Tyrique Stevenson Before Commanders Game
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Jaylon Johnson of the Chicago Bears.
Tyrique Stevenson’s second act with the Chicago Bears is starting to look like the breakout the team hoped for when they took him in Round 2 in 2023.
Stevenson is a huge reason the team’s secondary has been one of the better units on defense, which is saying something considering Chicago’s best cornerback, Jaylon Johnson, has been out after having core muscle surgery.
After wrapping up their bye week, the Bears are set to face the Washington Commanders next — a game that’ll be huge for Stevenson. In a now–infamous moment during the 2024 season, Stevenson became the subject of national scrutiny after a viral gaffe at Washington. On the final play — a 52-yard Hail Mary from Commanders QB Jayden Daniels — Stevenson was caught on camera taunting the Washington crowd, with his back turned just as the ball was snapped.
Belatedly reacting, the Bears CB tipped the pass he was supposed to defend, and the deflection fell into the hands of Washington’s Noah Brown for the game-winning touchdown. This week’s game will give Stevenson a huge opportunity to rewrite his own narrative, and Johnson wants to see his teammate do just that.
Jaylon Johnson on Tyrique Stevenson: You Can See a Switch Has Flipped
GettyJaylon Johnson said something has clicked inside Tyrique Stevenson.
Stevenson had a rough start this season. He was flagged three times in the first three weeks (one DPI and two illegal contacts), and Week 2 at Detroit, Pro Football Focus gave him a paltry 37.3 coverage grade.
But Week 3 against Dallas, he turned it around. In the first quarter, Stevenson punched the ball out for a takeaway and broke up two passes in a 31-14 win. He followed that up with his best game of the year in Las Vegas, allowing just one catch on four targets for seven yards, adding two PBUs and a diving interception to help seal a 25-24 road win. Through four games, Stevenson has a 75.4 overall PFF grade (16th among 169 qualifying CBs) with a 90.0 run-defense grade, which is ranked 2nd at the position.
In an October 6 appearance on 670 The Score’s “Spiegel & Holmes Show,” Johnson spoke about what he’s seen from Stevenson of late.
“You can kind of see a switch that flipped in his head, I would say, since the Dallas game,” Johnson said about Stevenson. “Just starting with the forced fumble and just really the aggression of what you see in and out, kind of just seeing the way that he moves around, the way that he makes plays is definitely something that, for myself, is beautiful to see because that’s something I’ve been wanting him to do since he came into the building to really flip that switch. He can be dominant when he gets his mind on that level. So for me, it’s beautiful.”
Johnson also issued a bit of a challenge to Stevenson: “I want to see him continue to do that throughout the year and continue to make those plays at a high level.”
Johnson Also had a Message for DB Josh Blackwell After Raiders Game
Late in the Bears’ Week 4 win over the Raiders, Bears defensive back Josh Blackwell made a game-saving play by blocking what would have been a 54-yard go-ahead field goal from Daniel Carlson with 33 seconds left. He burst off the edge, dove and deflected the kick, preserving Chicago’s one-point lead and sealing the victory.
Johnson revealed that prior to Blackwell’s game-saving play, he was having a very bad case of déjà vu.
“I feel like they played a heck of a game, and then it kind of just really got to the end, and it was like one of those: ‘Here we go again’ moments,” Johnson said. “Then when Blackwell blocked the kick, it was like, man, thank God, we can be on the other side of it. I shot Josh a text after, like: ‘Thank you for saving us.’ … it’s really a beautiful thing to see, the DB room making plays.”
Jared Goff Reveals What Running Back Pass Play Was Called
The Detroit Lions installed the play involving running back David Montgomery tossing the football during the week of preparation for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Appearing on 97.1 The Ticket Tuesday morning, quarterback Jared Goff revealed what the play was called and when it was installed in the game plan.
Montgomery's play was called "Purple Rumble."
The veteran signal-caller said there was no special meaning behind the call and believed it was the idea of head coach Dan Campbell.
"No, it's just the way that play, there's nothing special. Those are actually just words that we use that just combine to make that play happen," said Goff. "But yeah, no, nothing special there. It's something that was the brainchild of Dan (Campbell), I believe early in the week, and it came to life."
Goff admitted, when asked if the team will install unique or trick plays during game week and then run it on Sunday, "Yeah. Every week."
Studs and Duds: Lions RB David Montgomery Shines
The weekend was special for Detroit's talented running back, as he was able to play in front of friends and family. His sister was involved in a serious automobile accident 18 months ago that left her paralyzed from the neck down.
To see her and other supporters was very meaningful to the veteran running back.
Montgomery shared, via the team's social media channel, "It was super, super meaningful. You know, my sister hadn't seen me play in person since her accident. To be able to kinda get her here. I really appreciate the Cincinnati Bengals helping making sure that she got on the field. I think that was special. And I appreciate them for that. You know, it was a very special moment for me."
Montgomery was a former high school quarterback, so to be able to toss a pass in his hometown also provided added meaning.
“Super, super meaningful," said Montgomery. "To be able to come back home where it all started for me, being able to kind of show my arm where it all started for me, I think it was a special moment.”
Detroit's fifth-year head coach praised Montgomery in his postgame address to the media, including using a rare expletive expressed in public.
“He lays it on the line on Sundays. He lays it on the line at practice," said Campbell. “David is that guy. Heartbeat guy. He’ll do whatever it takes. He’ll stick his face up there in protection; he’ll run the dirty runs. He will run down field to make a block for a teammate in the pass game. “He’s all fu****g team. Excuse my language.”
