Stevenson named NFC Defensive Player of the Week : An NFC Defensive Player of the Week award has been bestowed upon Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson in recognition of his outstanding performance in the Bears’ season-opening victory over the Titans, which was 24-17.
With seven minutes and forty-five seconds left in the fourth quarter, the second-year professional intercepted Will Levis and returned the ball 43 yards for a touchdown. This gave the Bears their first lead of the game and finished off a period of twenty-four points that were scored without a response.
“The goal was to go out there and hold them to a third-and-long, get off the field, and give the ball back to Caleb [Williams],” Stevenson said to reporters after the game. “The goal was to give the ball back to Caled Williams.”
We simply took advantage of the fact that [Will Levis] made a mistake despite the fact that he had pitched it up. I’m happy that I was able to provide this team with the enthusiasm that we required to win the game.
In the final moments of the game, Stevenson concluded with four tackles and two passes defended, one of which was an interception. Sunday’s performance was not only a splash play.
But it also represented the first pick-six of his whole football career, which includes his high school, college, and rookie season in the National Football League.
After recording two interceptions, four passes defended, and five tackles in a 37-17 victory over the Falcons at Soldier Field, Stevenson was awarded the NFC Defensive Player of the Week award for the first time in his career.
This accolade was bestowed upon him in Week 17 of the previous season. It was the first time that a Bears player had been honored with this honor since former safety Eddie Jackson in Week 12 of the 2018 season. He was the first Bears player to do so.
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Along with being the first Bear to get the accolade in consecutive seasons, the Miami product is also the first Bear to receive it in each of their first two NFL seasons since Jackson in 2017 and 2018.
It is also the first time since Brian Urlacher in 2011 that a Bear has won the award in the first week of work. After a successful rookie season in which he started all 16 games he participated in, he was selected in the second round in the 2023 draft.
He finished with 84 tackles, 16 passes defended, four interceptions – which equaled Tremaine Edmunds and Jaylon Johnson for the most interceptions on the team – two forced fumbles, and one tackle for loss.
Following the completion of his second NFL training camp, Stevenson was able to enter Week 1 with a complete sense of assurance over his preparation. “I definitely feel like I can come out there and show that I’m one of the top corners in the league,” Stevenson stated on the twentieth of August.
“In this camp, I have been concentrating on my devotion to my minor details, which includes things like getting in and out of breaks and simply finding out where the ball is while also working out how they are going to throw it.
“Show the guys on the team that you’re here to play hard, and show the coaching staff that you’re here,” was the message that was given during the previous camp. There is a sense of “Let’s ball” now. Let’s put it through its paces.'”