As the Bears continue their 2022-23 season, there have been a lot of new faces in the lineup each week. Chicago Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon is one rookie who has been inserted into the defense since Week 1 and plays a vital role in the secondary. 

“I was anticipating it and really on my end, just taking the time to really prepare myself for the situations and get myself into the defensive playbook knowing [my] positions and just making sure that I’m on my job as much as I can so I can contribute to this team and help win,” Gordon said on this week’s Bear Essentials.

Heading into Week 8, the Bears sit at 3-4 and tied for second place in the NFC North. Gordon remains focused on the Bears’ path and is not concerned about other teams.

“We’re not really worried about the Cowboys’ story; we’re focused on the Bears’ story and what we can do, how we’re going to improve and how we’re going to go out on a gameday and execute our plan. Our mindset is focused on us,” Gordon said. 

While Gordon is acclimating to his first NFL season, he believes in controlling the mental and physical sides in playing a full 17-game season. 

“I’ve yet to play a full NFL season but I’m seeing it can be a combination of both. Being able to control your mentals and handle that side of it and take care of the stuff off the field. To be able to get that right and then also being able to take that extra time to get your body right on top of that, knowing that it’s going to be a little longer season,” Gordon said.

If the Patriots won Monday night, New England head coach Bill Belichick would pass Bears founder, George ‘Papa Bear’ Halas, for the second most wins as a head coach in NFL history.

“We actually weren’t aware of that. We were just going in there [Foxboro, Mass.] and doing our typical plan and things we have to do to get a win. We were talking about that this morning how much that was to hold him [Belichick] off so that meant a lot and glad we got that done,” Gordon said after the Bears pulled off a 33-14 win over New England.

In 7 games this season, Gordon has recorded 37 tackles, 4 passes defended, an interception and a forced fumble during his rookie campaign. His shining moment came on Monday night, securing his first career interception. 

“It was a fourth down play, 4th & 2 so it was something short. They were looking for something to convert. At the very end, I recognized the drag and just wanted to undercut it and I tried to take it to the house,” Gordon reflected on his 42-yard interception off Patriots quarterback, Bailey Zappe.

Watch the full interview with Kyler Gordon above. Bear Essentials runs Wednesdays at 7 p.m. on Marquee Sports Network.