— NFL (@NFL) November 20, 2022 After missing four games earlier this season because of an injury, he was put back into the offense and into the kick- return role, which he took over from Williams.
After taking the return from the "A" in Atlanta's end zone, he took it out of the end zone and ran through Chicago's coverage to get a block from Troy Andersen. He ran the rest of the way after splitting between the Bears kicker and the Falcons defensive back. He tried to tackle him from behind at the Chicago 5-yard line, but his attempt missed.
It was his first kick return for a touchdown since 2020 when he led the league in kick returns, return yardage, longest return and touchdown.
When he reached the end zone, he was mobbed by his teammates as he broke a tie with Josh Cribbs and Leon Washington, who each had eight kick returns for touchdown in their careers. It was the seventh season in which he had a kick return for a touchdown, two more than any other player. Coming off a career-best offensive year for him, he was adamant that he would stay on kick returns, even though he knew there was history to be made.
He said in July that he had a record to break. I have to get one more before I can hang it up. I will stop doing it if I get another.
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It's not clear if that will be the case for Patterson, who led the league in average yards per kick return three times in the last four years. Entering Sunday, he had four kick returns for 112 yards, as opponents had not been allowing him to return as many kicks in the past.
He has made the Pro Bowl four times and been a four-time first-team All-Pro as a returner.
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