It took Roquan Smith 27 career games to capture a 10-tackle, multi-sack game.
It took Jack Sanborn two career games.
In his second NFL game last Sunday against the Detroit Lions, Sanborn helped the defense tremendously – despite them giving up 31 points to the Lions.
He recorded 12 total tackles (nine solos), two sacks and two quarterback hits against the Lions. He made tantalizing plays on the field in place of the recently traded Roquan Smith – including a touchdown-saving tackle on Lions quarterback Jared Goff.
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Back before the trade deadline, the Bears traded All-Pro linebacker Smith to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for a second- and fifth-round pick in the upcoming draft.
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In turn, the team asked Sanborn to help pick up some slack for the missing Smith. So far, he's offered a helping hand on the field and given management motivation to bring him back to next year's squad.
Sanborn, 23, went undrafted out of Wisconsin and signed with the Bears last May. He is an Illinois native, formerly residing in Lake Zurich.