The Chicago Bears won’t be able to escape being on the wrong end of the Washington Commanders’ Hail Mary in Week 8 anytime soon, and that includes Bears cornerback Tyrique Steveson’s future.
Stevenson got caught being distracted and taunting Commanders fans before the final play began in an 18-15 loss. That only helped Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels find wide receiver Noah Brown on a 52-yard pass play, popularly known as a Hail Mary, for the win.
While Stevenson publicly apologized twice, Bears head coach Matt Eberflus still faced more questions about the cornerback’s status. Eberflus kept his cards up regarding whether there would be any disciplinary action.
Stevenson has made quality plays on defense this season despite his debacle in D.C. The second-year corner has 35 tackles and an interception return for a touchdown. Eberflus noted that Stevenson’s on-field antics in Washington already merited a negative outcome.
“The consequence was that we lost the game,” Eberflus said.
That said, Stevenson didn’t discuss what he shared with the team on Monday after the loss. Instead, he went public on social media and in a press conference regarding an apology.
“But the brief message is I apologize to the boys for letting them down. I let the moment get too big, and it’s something that can never happen again and won’t ever happen again.”
‘Learning Experience’
In addition to the fallout from a game where the team led until Brown snagged the ball in the end zone with no time left, the loss put the Bears all alone in last place in a highly competitive NFC North with a 4-3 record,“That’s the unfortunate [part], and I would also say beauty, of this game is that you disrespect it in a certain way, and it will come to haunt you in some form or fashion,” Kmet said. “So, I think it’s a learning experience for everybody. We all play with a lot of passion.”
“Tyrique plays with a lot of passion, and we all love him for that. But there’s definitely a respect level of the game and knowing that you’ve got to finish it out until those double zeros hit the clock,” he added.
Despite the microscope on Stevenson’s late-game conduct, it wasn’t his only concerning moment of the game. He also trashed-talked with Commanders during the fourth quarter, and Stevenson received a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
“My focus is on this building and how the people in this building feel,” Stevenson said. “I understand there’s anger. I understand somebody’s ticked.”
“I understand the things that go on outside of the building that could possibly affect how somebody feels and all that,” he added. “But to be honest I’m going to worry about the opinion of the building and if these guys got my back, and that’s how I’m moving forward.”
Stevenson, who has started all but one game this season, could get his seventh start on Nov. 3 in Week 9 against the Arizona Cardinals (4-4). Similar to Washington, Arizona has a quarterback in Kyler Murray, who has also thrown a game-winning Hail Mary in his NFL career.
