Oct 15, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) is unable to make the catch on a long pass in the first half while being defended by Chicago Bears defensive back Tyrique Stevenson (29) at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports.
The Minnesota Vikings defeated the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football by a score of 30-12, and a couple of days removed from the defeat, Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson opted to insult Vikings wideout Jordan Addison.
Referees flagged Stevenson in the endzone for pass interference on Addison on a play where the Bears defensive back pushed Addison to the ground. Most didn’t debate the efficacy of the penalty.
But Stevenson claimed this week that part of the problem on the play was Addison’s weight. He claimed Addison weighs 135 pounds.
In reality, Addison weighs 175.
“It’s hard doing this job, playing DB in the league. It’s an offensive league, so you kinda don’t get the calls. Ball was in the air, I played it back. I thought once the ball was in the air, I look back, it becomes a 50/50, a little shove is allowed. But it’s not my fault he’s 135 pounds, and he fell,” Stevenson said.
Here’s the play in question:
Stevenson has a rather splotchy recent history with, well, everything. In October, he mocked fans right before a Hail Mary pass attempt by Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels. He was so busy taunting that the Hail Mary broke in Washington’s favor and lost the game for Chicago.
The Bears haven’t won a game since.
Then, on Monday, in addition to the pass interference infraction, Stevenson tormented Vikings fans with a Skol chant while his team was losing. The Bears never recovered and wound up losing 30-12.
He’s not high on Bears fans’ list of prestige at the moment.
Stevenson also ranks 86th of 115 qualifying cornerbacks, according to Pro Football Focus, this season, with a middling 57.6 grade. He often talks the talk of a quasi-shutdown corner but then manufactures blunders that don’t seem humanly possible each week.
It’s also worth noting that few bought his 135-pound insult aimed at Addison — because Addison doesn’t weigh 135 pounds. That might’ve been Addison’s middle school weight.
The Vikings next play the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday and are favored to win by three or four points. Stevenson and the Bears have been mathematically eliminated from postseason contention after losing eight straight. His Bears take on the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field and are forecasted to lose by a touchdown.
Stevenson will probably match up with Lions pass-catcher Jameson Williams, who weighs 180 pounds, though Stevenson may claim it’s closer to 140 after the game.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.