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Malik Muhammad may want to use a sick day when the Bears have their video review of Thursday’s win over the Patriots.
The rookie cornerback seemingly ran away from Rhamondre Stevenson during the screen-pass touchdown debacle on the final play of the first half in the Bears’ 30-24 victory Thursday night.
The 48-yard touchdown changed the game’s complexion, creeping the Patriots to within 20-14 at halftime instead of facing a 13-point hole.
“He’s a rookie, but #24 gotta find a way to get this deleted from all hard drives and wiped off the internet before film tomorrow,” ex-NFLer and podcaster Emmanuel Acho tweeted.
There is plenty of blame to go around when a simple dump-off pass turns into a touchdown, but Muhammad’s actions on the play stood out.
Stevenson caught the pass from Drake Maye around the 46-yard line and ran free for about 20 yards before finally approaching some defenders.
He cut to his right to avoid three Bears, with two even colliding, and Muahammad stood diagonally across from him when he pivoted.
The fourth-round pick out of Texas instead made the bizarre decision to turn 90 degrees to engage with receiver Kyle Williams, and he started running away from Stevenson.
As Muhammad ran away from where he should have been to stop Stevenson, it allowed the running back to find an opening and scoot into the end zone practically untouched.
Muhammad actually did a 360 during the play while not having any impact on Stevenson’s path.
Plenty on the internet question the rookie’s approach on the play.
“What could Malik Muhammad II (#24) possibly be thinking on this play?” one person tweeted.
Another wrote: “What was Chicago Bears DB Malik Muhammad doing on this play last night? Tell me.”
“Bears #24 said nope, he’s not running me over 🤣😂,” a third posted.
The game got worse for Muhammad when he exited with a toe injury that made him doubtful to return, and one reporter said the cornerback was in a boot after the game.
The Bears had another major injury concern coming out of the game with veteran tight end Cole Kmet suffering a right knee injury that had coach Ben Johnson saying: “I don’t think it looked very good.”