It is hard to have strong takeaways from the preseason. Most of the starters are just getting the rust off, and the time is mainly for back-end roster players to make a push to get on the team. However, if the Chicago Bears can find a takeaway from a starter in the last preseason game, it is that Kyler Gordon has a chance to be a star this season.
The Chicago Bears have a breakout star in Kyler Gordon
Gordon was awful as a rookie, but he was being asked to do far too much. We saw that in his second year when the team moved him into the slot full-time. He took the role head-on and became exactly what you want from a slot player.
It looks like he is taking another stride as he enters his third NFL season, his second in a full-time slot. Gordon missed the first two weeks as he recovered from an injury, but he came out in week two and was arguably the best player on the field.
He had a sack, four tackles and was covering multiple players as a zone defender in coverage. Gordon was everywhere, and he barely played into the second quarter.
Gordon is valuable in the slot because he can shoot from player to player, which disrupts crossing routes.
He is also not afraid to stick his nose in the run game and is going to be viewed as one of the more dangerous blitzers in the NFL when he can come in free off of the slot. If this week showed us anything it is that the Bears will not be afraid to dial up that blitz this season.
It is the preseason, so it is hard to overreact. At the same time, Gordon was always trending this way as a player. Now, his skillset is being fully realized. Do not be surprised when Kyler Gordon goes from a rising Bears star to a rising name across the NFL.