LAKE FOREST, In poor health., — This hasn’t been the beginning that huge receiver Chase Claypool had hoped for right here in Chicago. Since being acquired for a second-round choose on November 1st, Claypool has simply 12 receptions for 111 yards in six video games, lacking just a few with a knee damage.
Within the Week 17 loss to Detroit, Claypool received upset on the sideline as issues have been tumbling down for the Bears giving up 34 unanswered factors. It was a degree of frustration for Claypool as he had simply 0 receptions on 1 goal and the Bears offense went three-and-out quite a few occasions. On Thursday, Claypool defined his facet of the state of affairs.
“Truthfully, I used to be like, you recognize, coming off the sector, three-and-out, sit on the bench, do the identical factor over,” Claypool mentioned.” One thing’s gotta change in that second. We gotta notice the drives the place we now have to attain. We have now to comprehend when it’s not OK to go three-and-out. We gotta act that manner. If we go three-and-out, it may’t simply be OK. And it isn’t. However we gotta actually have that fireplace and power and notice that, yo, it’s time to go.”
Whereas Claypool was upset on the sideline, quarterback Justin Fields needed to go over and calm him down. It was an instance of management from the younger quarterback, speaking to a veteran receiver who simply hasn’t been capable of become involved.
Claypool appeared to understand Fields coming over and speaking to him about every little thing, reasonably than a screaming match on the sideline.
“It’s good. We have now an excellent little backwards and forwards. I used to be telling him my facet and he was telling him his facet and we got here to frequent floor,” Claypool mentioned. “It’s all the time good when you possibly can have that alternate with a quarterback that all the time follows up with mutual respect.”
For the reason that acquisition of Claypool, the manufacturing simply hasn’t been what each side have hoped for. But it surely doesn’t suggest the commerce is a dud simply but.
The transfer was made because of the lack of choices in free company in 2023 on the huge receiver place. Common Supervisor Ryan Poles felt there was worth in buying and selling for Claypool as a result of he could be a greater possibility than what is about to be out there, barring any shock strikes. The compensation does sting a bit because the Bears second-round choose despatched to Pittsburgh will possible be between 32-35 relying on Sunday’s sport.
However Claypool remains to be underneath contract and getting a full offseason of labor in with the franchise, offense and Fields ought to assist him right here within the 2023 offseason. And he is trying ahead to linking up with Fields and the remainder of the receivers within the offseason to work on issues.
“We’re going to get collectively. We have been already speaking about getting collectively in Florida, perhaps Georgia, one thing like that,” Claypool mentioned. “He would possibly come all the way down to LA, or perhaps we’ll perform a little journey with the receivers we received coming in and the blokes we have already got right here. We’re going to construct that. Then simply hanging out, you recognize?”
Claypool is remaining optimistic about subsequent season as properly regardless of the Bears 3-13 report and the struggles they’ve had this season.
“We’re tremendous younger. We’ve misplaced a number of video games by one possession. We’ve misplaced video games the place we have been up within the fourth quarter,” Claypool mentioned. “That’s why we received to actually notice once we can put a sport away. After we are up 9 factors within the fourth quarter towards Inexperienced Bay, we received to win that sport. After we’re up within the fourth quarter towards Detroit, we’ve received to win that sport. The primary time we performed them. Numerous video games have been determined by one possession or one rating. That’s what makes me assume we’ll be an excellent staff.”
And Bears followers definitely hope he is proper.
