Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Mack off to quick start as Bears eye Seahawks
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Khalil Mack sat out offseason workouts and the preseason, had just one week to learn a new system following a blockbuster trade, and still managed to dominate in his debut for the Chicago Bears.
The twotime All-Pro performed exactly as envisioned in a prime-time opener.
The Bears hope for more of that when they host Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks (0-1) tonight. They’d just like a different outcome.
Chicago blew a 20-point lead in the second half against Green Bay on Sept. 9, with a hobbled Aaron Rodgers leading the Packers to a 24-23 victory that spoiled Matt Nagy’s coaching debut. But before that rally, Mack was the one stealing the spotlight.
“Obviously he’s stepped in very well,” defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. “But I think everybody likes to overanalyze things — how much can you play a guy that’s just come in like that, no training camp, no nothing, hasn’t played since whenever his last game was last season? But I think with special guys, you throw that stuff out the window. He’s a special player. He did special things under special circumstances.”
Mack held out the entire offseason and preseason with Oakland while seeking a longterm contract extension rather than play under the final year of his rookie deal. The Raiders finally traded him two weeks ago. And the Bears gave Mack the richest deal ever for an NFL defensive player: a sixyear, $141 million extension that guarantees $90 million.
Some long sessions getting up to speed with outside linebackers coach Brandon Staley followed.
“I’ve been ready for the grind, been waiting five months to feel the grind,” Mack said. “Yeah, we’ve definitely been doing that.”
Mack sure looked ready against Green Bay.
He had no trouble getting around Bryan Bulaga for a strip-sack against DeShone Kizer that led to a turnover. With Kizer hit by Roy Robertson-Harris as he unleashed a short pass, Mack returned an interception 27 yards for a touchdown near the end of the first half.
But that wasn’t all.
He was closing in from the edge when Robertson-Harris came through the middle and landed on Rodgers’ left leg while sacking the two-time MVP in the second quarter. Rodgers left the field on a cart, only to return in the second half.
Mack also had pressure on Kizer when Roquan Smith got a sack on his first NFL play.
“He wasn’t always in the best position, but he still could come up and make a play or make something happen,” Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll said. “To be as good as he is, to be the [2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year], you have to have all the attributes and he has them. Speed, strength, explosion, savvy, motor — he has all that stuff. He’s just getting in shape too, so he’s going to get better.”