Chicago Bears rookie Malik Muhammad is shining at nickel CB with Kyler Gordon sidelined. See how the former Texas Longhorn is making an immediate impact in his first two NFL games.
Chicago Bears rookie defensive back Malik Muhammad is making the most of his opportunities so far in his rookie season. The former fourth-round draft pick from Texas has opened as the team's starting nickel cornerback with Kyler Gordon still on the PUP list.
Against the Carolina Panthers and Minnesota Vikings, Muhammad has allowed just five receptions on 11 targets for 67 yards. He has one interception and a sack after the first two weeks.
After the 12 cornerbacks who have 0.0 NFL passer rating allowed in man coverage, Muhammad's 14.6 rating is the the third-lowest in the league, according to Pro Football Focus. He is tied for 32nd among all corners with his 84.0 NFL passer rating allowed in zone coverage.
Muhammad has done a little bit of everything for defensive coordinator Dennis Allen's unit. In the Week 2 loss to the Vikings, he registered his first career sack.
With 2:32 remaining in the third quarter, the Vikings' offense faced a third-and-7 from their own 41-yard line. The Bears had eight players lined up on the line of scrimmage, with rookie safety Dillon Thieneman and Muhammad next to each other off the left tackle.
As the ball was snapped, linebackers T.J. Edwards and Devin Bush and safety Cam Lewis dropped back in coverage and the players on the line of scrimmage went after quarterback Carson Wentz.
Muhammad knew once Wentz called for the snap, he was going to get the sack.
"We knew somebody was going to come scot-free," Muhammad said. "It was either gonna be me or somebody on the other side of the defense because they didn't have enough to block, so once I seen DT [Dillon Thieneman] run through the running back, I'm like, 'Oh yeah, I'm scot-free.' I knew I was going to get the sack."
Defensive backs aren't typically the players who end up on the stat sheet with a sack, but when the play was over, Muhammad felt the raw emotions being let out.
"Yeah, we were all turnt," Muhammad said. "I was turnt because I wanted a sack earlier in the game that I missed by just a hair, but yeah, everybody was turnt. That was a big turning point int he game too, especially for us to get momentum."
That third-down sack forced Minnesota to punt and kept the Bears within three points of the lead. Muhammad mentioned there was another player that he felt like he was close to getting a sack.
On third-and-12 with 9:08 left in the second quarter, Muhammad lined up five yards off the line of scrimmage. As Wentz called for the snap, he ran free through the B gap (between right guard and right tackle), forcing the Vikings' quarterback to get rid of the ball to the right flat. Edwards made the tackle and tripped up the running back before he could reach the first-down marker.
(You can watch the break down of both plays in the video below.)
Muhammad is comfortability in Allen's defense, and that's evident by his play through the first two games.
"At the end of the day, like coach [Allen] always says, if you can count to four, you can play in this defense," Muhammad said. "I've been playing corner since high school, but I mean, learning the nickel spot was challenging, and I'm still learning new things as I keep going and keep playing it, but I mean, it's fun, it's a fun challenge."
Muhammad has cross trained throughout the summer at nickel and outside corner and mentioned that just remembers his exact responsibilities for each position is something he needs to always remember as one of the two rookies in the Bears' secondary.
Even though he and Thieneman are two of the younger players in the Bears' starting defense, he doesn't believe either of them think about that.
"I really don't think that nay of the guys that we trot out there on defense would look at us like rookies," Muhammad said. "I mean, outside of it like when it comes to rookie duties and stuff they look at us like rookies, but anything else man, they don't know even treat us like rookies for real."
Some of those rookie duties include picking up the veterans' pads and getting snacks, but Muhammad appreciates the respect.
"It actually makes me feel great, knowing that I have to play up to the older guys' standards," Muhammad said. "If I'm going to trot out there with them, I gotta play up to their standard, so, I mean, that makes me feel great."
Muhammad told The Bigs' Herb Howard that he wants to become the Defensive Rookie of the Year. If the Bears' cornerback continues to build off of his early play, he is going to put himself in contention to win the prestigious award.
Muhammad isn't shying away from loft goals. He told 104.3 The Score's Herb Howard that he has his sights set on becoming the Defensive Rookie of the Year. If he continues to build on this early momentum, he won't just be filling a void in the Bears' secondary, he'll be a legit contender for the award.
