The Chicago Bears have strong competition at the bottom of their wide receiver depth chart. D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, and Rome Odunze are obvious locks. Second-year man Tyler Scott also appears safe as the #4 option. After that, it feels like a race for the final two spots. Plenty of notable names are trying to stake their claim. Incumbent Velus Jones hopes to lean on his versatility as a kick returner and running back to survive another year. DeAndre Carter is also trying to make special teams his primary argument. Collin Johnson had a huge preseason debut in the Hall of Fame game. Freddie Swain is a decent veteran with experience in Shane Waldron’s system.
However, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune has it on pretty good authority that one notable name has swooped in to lock up one of those spots: Dante Pettis.
“It wasn’t just the two touchdowns he caught against the Bengals. It’s how he has been used in practice. Collin Johnson has been out injured since the preseason opener. Maybe DeAndre Carter will get back on the field and push Pettis for the job, but Pettis offers a sure-handed option as a punt returner and might be the fifth receiver. He certainly helped himself Saturday.”
The revival of Pettis with the Chicago Bears is wild.
They signed him in 2022 to help their thin receiving corps. He made 19 catches for 245 yards and three touchdowns. A year later, he suffered an injury in August and was placed on injured reserve, then released with a settlement. Everyone understandably thought his time in Chicago was over. Then, almost out of nowhere, the Bears brought him back in March. He then proceeds to go from afterthought to one of the standouts of the preseason. Say this for the young man. He has plenty of resilience. If Biggs is correct and he’s secured the fifth spot on the depth chart, that leaves one remaining for Jones, Carter, Johnson, and Swain to fight over. Smart money says it will come down to Jones or Johnson. The former has kick return value, while the latter is a better blocker. It may come down to the final preseason game in Kansas City for both.
Velus is a goner. You can’t trust his hands, can’t trust his routes, and he is already 27 years old. If CJ is healthy I think he makes the team, and Pettis at least has improved his route running and hands. I think they stick with Blackwell as the PR. Only way Velus stays is if CJ is hurt.
If there is a patch in the season where the staff is suspicious of Pettis’ hands, it makes sense why they had Odunze doing some PR’ing. Cya, Velus.
I’d speculate Pettis will make the team over Velus, who is on the bubble with Homer. I think Collin Johnson will make the team or start out on the PUP.
WR(6)-DJ, Keenan, Odunze, Scott, Pettis, Johnson
What the Bears need to do is PS the players they aren’t worried about losing. I would PS DOM Rob and Velus for sure. I’m not overly worried about losing Pettis but I’m a little concerned Collin Johnson gets poached. Gonna be tricky bc Pettis, Wheeler, Johnson- gotta figure it out.
Before Pettis was released (by the Getsy offensive crew), I thought Pettis was getting better. But as the year progressed, I realized that they really didn’t know anything about football.
THE big difference this year, is that the “bottom” of all the Bears positions, are filled with people the coaches have improved. Significantly.
You see it at every skill position. The offensive line might be behind because of injuries, but the defense is packed with players. The Bears are about to lose players who will star elsewhere.