Bears defensive back Kyler Gordon’s lack of availability over the last two years has been a source of frustration for the Bears and his return to the lineup on Sunday illustrated why the team has missed him so much.

Gordon had three sacks and two forced fumbles, including a strip-sack of Falcons quarterback Michael Penix late in the fourth quarter that allowed the Bears to run out the clock on a 31-23 victory. He’s the second Bears defensive back to record three sacks in a game and the second defensive back for any team with at least three sacks and two forced fumbles in the same game.

Gordon missed the first five games of the season and all of the summer while working his way back from a calf injury that limited him to five appearances in 2025. After the game, he called the return “everything I wanted.”

“I wanted to be on the field and contribute, add to this team and help the direction we’re going to go, and that’s what I did,” Gordon said, via the team’s website.

No one will be expecting weekly repeats of Sunday’s exploits, but the Bears will be banking on Gordon staying in the lineup and working to make their defense better as they try to build on their 4-2 start to the season.