Chicago Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson said his feelings were “a little hurt, disappointed,” when coaches told him he wasn’t going to start Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.
But Stevenson said he also knew he had to accept the decision, which Bears coaches made after Stevenson’s actions during the Washington Commanders’ winning Hail Mary play in Week 8. Stevenson was interacting with the crowd when the play started and was out of position when Noah Brown caught the 52-yard pass.
Fellow second-year cornerback Terell Smith started in Sunday’s 29-9 loss to the Cardinals in place of Stevenson, who entered in the third defensive series instead. Smith later left with an ankle injury in the first half.
“I can’t go against the decisions,” Stevenson said. “I’m here to be a team player, be a great guy for this team, and that’s what I (set) out to do this week.”
Stevenson had to take a moment to collect himself Wednesday when Bears coaches delivered the news that he would be temporarily benched. But he said his teammates understood his reaction.
Stevenson said coach Matt Eberflus told him to “just be there for the guys” when delivering the news.
“The guys are looking at me to see how I respond. The guys respect me, so I couldn’t come in with my head down,” Stevenson said. “All I did was come in, show them boys I wanted to work, and that’s what happened this week.”
Stevenson said he set out to prove “to the whole building that one play don’t define me.”
“You don’t put things like that aside,” he said. “You take them as they go, and you add them to the resume. I think this is going to be on my resume to always keep me locked in in every game until the end of the game.”
Eberflus reiterated he thought Stevenson handled the week of practice well. Stevenson had seven tackles and two passes defended Sunday.
“He played really well today,” Eberflus said. “He had a good pass breakup, had some nice tackles. So he put his best foot forward. His teammates and his coaches and all of us in that circle have got his back.”
Caleb Williams hurts his ankle
As the clock wound down Sunday, Bears quarterback Caleb Williams limped off the field. He hurt his ankle on the Bears’ final series, but he said he feels like he’s OK.
Eberflus said they would double-check to make sure he’s fine Monday.
Williams took six sacks Sunday and was under frequent pressure. When asked why Williams was still in the game so late, down by 20 points, Eberflus said, “We were just getting work and getting timing on the two-minute operation.”
Montez Sweat sat out for the first time
The Bears worked out defensive end Montez Sweat before the game, but the veteran didn’t feel like he could properly play. So he sat out for the first time in a Bears uniform.
Sweat took a cleat to his shin against the Commanders, and Eberflus said he was in too much pain.
“There’s pain when you turn the corner,” Eberflus said. “When you’re a defensive end, your ankle has to have flexion in it, and you have to have that mobility in your lower extremities to play the way he plays.”
The Bears already were playing without safety Jaquan Brisker (concussion), nickel Kyler Gordon (hamstring) and left tackle Braxton Jones (knee).
They also lost Smith, defensive tackle Andrew Billings (chest) and right tackle Darnell Wright (knee) during the game.
