Justin Fields met with the media Tuesday after the second day of Chicago Bears OTAs. He shed some light on his new pass catchers, namely DJ Moore and Chase Claypool, and why optimism around the Bears’ passing game is warranted in 2023.
Moore was part of the blockbuster trade that saw the Bears send the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft to the Carolina Panthers for a bounty of draft selections. Adding the playmaking wideout was critical to GM Ryan Poles’ offseason puzzle.
“Strength. Speed. Body control. Great hands,” Fields said of Moore. “I think he knows how to use his body to get open. … He has that second gear to go get the ball. So, I think that’s what makes him a great receiver.”
Moore has proven to be one of the top playmakers in the NFL through his first five seasons. Despite playing with the lowly Panthers, he’s surpassed 1,100 yards three times.
As talented as Moore is on the field, his off-field leadership has been lauded as his best quality. It will help Claypool as he embarks on his first full season with the Bears, too.
Fields referenced Claypool’s improved maturity during his media session Tuesday.
“Chase has improved tremendously, just from the end of last year to now,” Fields said of Claypool. “That’s one thing I’m truly proud to say. Just seeing his work ethic, his attitude change, you can just see he’s taken another step.”
It’s concerning that Claypool made enough of a negative impression in 2022 to see a positive change in his work ethic so soon. Don’t get me wrong; it’s excellent that Claypool is putting in the work now. But maybe his lack of production after the trade was about more than just adjusting to a new offense.
That’s water under the bridge at this point. Fields is a fan of his top two pass-catchers, which should lead to big plays in the passing game in 2023.
