Chiefs RB Derrick Gore on scoring his first NFL touchdown: ‘It meant a lot’
The Kansas City Chiefs have been trying to develop a ground game since Week 1 this season, and seem to have found something promising in third-year running back Derrick Gore. A preseason standout, Gore made a big impression on fans with his toughness and ability to get downhill to pick up yards.
Seeing the first significant snaps of his career on Monday against the Giants, Gore made the most of every opportunity he had, rushing for 48 yards on 11 carries with the first touchdown of his NFL career in the win. He spoke to the media on Wednesday before practice about the performance, telling reporters that he is grateful to be in a position to put on a show.
“It meant a lot honestly,” Gore said. “I really can’t put it into words, [I am] just filled with emotions, just knowing my background, where I came from, how long it took for me to get to this point, but very thankful for the opportunity I got.”
It has been an uphill battle to get on the field in his career, especially on a team as talented as Kansas City’s, but Gore insisted that the chance he got against New York was just one step towards a broader goal.
“It’s been a long time coming honestly,” He explained of the situation he’s in now. “But [I’m] just taking it each day, one day at a time, [taking] advantage of the reps that I get, whether it’s one or seven.”
For now, though, Gore is still celebrating his success in Week 8 in his own way. Asked what he did with the ball from his touchdown last week, he told reporters he keeps it close after initially ditching it on the field after getting caught up in the moment after scoring.
“It’s in my locker right now,” Gore said. “I kind of dropped it off and Patrick [Mahomes] handed it me on the sideline and I was thankful for that.”
With the seal now broken on his first touchdown and his first signature game in the books, Gore has a big opportunity to make a big impact this week against Green Bay. If he can turn out another hefty stat line against the Packers, Gore could potentially work himself into a significant role in the offense, even once Clyde Edwards-Helaire comes back from injured reserve.
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First injury report for Chiefs vs. Packers, Week 9
