Before yesterday’s game against the Denver Broncos, rookie defensive end ![]()
On Sunday, he set career-highs with three tackles and two sacks. The sacks were the first of Reyes’ NFL career.
The first occurred early in the fourth quarter with the Broncos on San Diego’s 21-yard line. On 2nd-and-10, Peyton Manning dropped back and had no time to react as Reyes took him down for an eight-yard loss.
Later in the quarter, Reyes again got to Manning, this time bringing him down for a 7-yard loss to force a third and long.
On the Broncos next series with just over a minute to go in the game, Reyes tackled running back Ronnie Hillman for no gain.
“(I’m) just trying to do my job,” Reyes said. “(I’m) learning a lot. I was kind of in the right spot at the right time type of deal. (I’m) just trying to get better. I’m like a sponge right now, just trying to take everything in and really just try to grow as a player and learn from all of these great guys we got on the D-line.”
Head coach Norv Turner was impressed by the rookie, singling him out in his Monday press conference.
“Kendall Reyes had his best game,” he said. “He was outstanding. He had two sacks. He just continues to grow. He’s not a guy who is (hitting) that rookie wall; I think he’s getting better and better.
Reyes now has 10 tackles, six solo, and two sacks in 10 games this season. The Chargers took Reyes in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft, 49th overall.