There wasn’t a lot to love about the Bears defense in Sunday’s 31-30 loss to the Lions. But the emergence of rookie linebacker Jack Sanborn was certainly a lone bright spot.
Sanborn made his second NFL start at middle linebacker since Roquan Smith was traded to the Ravens. In Sunday’s loss, Sanborn showed good instincts on the field, leading the Bears with 12 tackles, including two for a loss, two sacks and two QB hits.
But it was evident to Matt Eberflus even back in preseason that the Bears had something special in Sanborn.
“If you go all the way back to preseason, we saw what kind of player he was,” Eberflus said after the loss. “He’s very instinctual, he makes a lot of plays on the ball, always reads his keys, he’s always on it in that way. So we’re pleased with where he’s going.”
One play that didn’t count was Sanborn’s keeping interception of Jared Goff, which was negated by a questionable hands to the face penalty of Jaylon Johnson.
“What a nice play by Sanborn there getting in the window,” Eberflus said. “I thought that was really a game changer for him and his growth.”
Sanborn credits the coaching he received during practice for the reason he came down with the ball.
“We communicated pretty well,” Sanborn said. “We thought the back was going to take more of an angle route, but he actually took it more vertical. Pre-snap we said that I was going to be there for him on that inside. Quarterback didn’t get enough air under it and I was fortunate to be there.”
With seven games left this season, Sanborn has more opportunities to prove that he deserves a chance to start heading into 2023.
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