Chicago Bears’ offense will be fine with or without Chase Claypool

Chicago Bears wide receiver Chase Claypool was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list to begin training camp, an ominous sign for the fourth-year wideout in a make-or-break season.

Claypool joined the Bears via trade at the 2022 trade deadline and failed to make a meaningful impact during his half-season with the team. He totaled 14 catches for 140 yards and no touchdowns, a stat line that was excused because of the difficulty of learning a new offense in such a short time.

Those excuses were replaced by expectations this offseason, especially with a full spring and summer to learn the playbook and work with Justin Fields. The result should be on-field production that justifies GM Ryan Poles’ decision to trade what became the 32nd overall pick for Claypool.

Soft-tissue injuries limited Claypool’s participation in the offseason workout program, and now that he hasn’t passed his physical at the start of training camp, there’s no telling how long he’ll be shelved. As a result, the Bears have to press forward with a group of pass-catchers that, unlike past seasons, is capable of shouldering the load.

Let’s start at the top of the depth chart with DJ Moore. The Bears’ aggressive decision to trade the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft was easier when the Carolina Panthers included Moore in the deal. He’s Chicago’s go-to guy and will be for as long as he’s healthy and under contract.

Moore’s presence on the roster pushed Claypool out of the WR1 spotlight and into a more suitable role as a WR2. But even that job wasn’t necessarily his.

Darnell Mooney has proven capable of being that guy. He has a 1,000-yard season on his resume playing second-fiddle to a presumed No. 1, and now that he’s fully healthy and recovered from last year’s ankle injury, there’s a good chance he’ll be the WR2 again, even if and when Claypool is ready to go.

That drops Chase Claypool to WR3, where he could be a lethal weapon as a downfield shot target. But if his injury issues linger, rookie Tyler Scott has the juice and refined skill set to step in and contribute right away in his first season. The former Cincinnati Bearcat has skills similar to Tyler Lockett (Seahawks), a player who’s thrived with top-tier juice and route running. Scott can be a discount version of that early in his career.

Of course, a Bears passing attack with a healthy Claypool is better than without him. But the best teams in the NFL have the depth to deal with injuries, and for the first time in a while, Chicago has that at wide receiver.

Players like Dante Pettis and Equanimeous St. Brown were starters early in the 2022 season. Now, they’re on the roster bubble. It’s proof of how far Chicago’s wide receiver group has come, and why it will turn into a strength on the team by season’s end.

Don’t hit the panic button if Chase Claypool’s absence becomes an extended one. Frustration is appropriate. Panic isn’t. The Bears will be fine.