NEWSLETTER
Three weeks of football have brought the Chicago Bears three different defensive stars to the forefront.
Khalil Mack knocked it out of the park in his Bears debut in the season opener, Danny Trevathan tackled everyone in sight and made a bunch of big plays en route to winning the NFC’s Defensive Player of the Week award in Week 2, and Sherrick McManis – wait what? – did the darn thing in Week 3 against the Arizona Cardinals.
The veteran cornerback/special teams stud filled the stat sheet as he became an unexpected hero in the Bears’ Week 3 win against the Cardinals on Sunday. McManis picked up an interception, tackle-for-loss, quarterback hit, pass defended, and snuffed out Arizona’s last attempt at a comeback by sacking quarterback Josh Rosen on the game’s final play. He also chipped in with an open-field special tackle on Christian Kirk on a 61-yard Pat O’Donnell punt that came right before McManis’ interception.
I hope someone gave McManis a game ball, because he certainly earned one. If not, there’s still time to right that wrong.
McManis is in his seventh year with the Bears, but hasn’t been a major defensive contributor. But every week can reveal a new batch of gridiron heroes. For Week 3, McManis certainly earned his place among that group.
