5 wild predictions: Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears
By Josh Zinger
Jayron Kearse gets first career interception
After an exciting offseason that culminated in winning the illustrious Mr. Mankato award for best offseason performance by an under-the-radar player, Jayron Kearse is finally getting the chance to step onto the field for meaningful action.
After strong safety Andrew Sendejo was carted off with an ankle injury early in last week’s game, Kearse stepped in for the remainder of the day. Now, Sendejo has officially been ruled out of this week’s contest, so the rookie out of Clemson will get another chance to start.
At 6’4″ and 215 pounds, Kearse translated his intriguing physical tools into big plays all preseason, with three passes defended, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery in four games. Now, Kearse needs to carry that production into the regular season.
When asked about Kearse’s play filling in for Sendejo last week, head coach Mike Zimmer described his performance as “average”, but that is to be expected from a rookie thrust into action with no warning.
With a full week of preparation, this game should go slightly smoother. Still, up-and-down play is likely from the rookie. Kearse has a penchant for big plays, but that style of play carries inherent risks with it. I expect Kearse to use his length and athleticism to get into a passing lane to make an interception this week, but the young defensive back will likely let up a few plays along the way.