The Chicago Bears didn’t play it cheap this off-season. They approached the past two months with the clear intention of doing everything possible to build Caleb Williams’ supporting cast. Most people expected that mission to focus on the offensive line and running backs. While that proved true, the team caught everybody by surprise when they used their first two picks on a tight end (Colston Loveland) and a wide receiver (Luther Burden). That second one raised eyebrows since the Bears already had DJ Moore and Rome Odunze. They’d also signed solid veteran Olamide Zaccheaus.
Ben Johnson didn’t hide from questions about those decisions. He made it clear that the intent moving forward is straight competition. Nobody on this roster is safe anymore.
“There is no depth chart right now. If you want to play, you’ve got to go earn it. If you want a role, you’ve got to go earn it. They know that.
I think all we did this weekend is we might’ve just turned up the notch a couple of dials for certain people in the building. That’s a good thing. That’s a healthy thing.”
Some took this to wonder if certain big names on the roster might not be as safe as initially perceived. At the top of that list is Moore. Some wonder if Burden’s arrival was meant to position the Bears to possibly move on after this season, presuming he continues the trend of disappointing play from last season.
DJ Moore has nobody to blame but himself.
People will make excuses for him. The coaching staff was bad. His quarterback took too many sacks. Unfortunately, there is one problem. All of those arguments were also true in 2023, and he went for 1300 yards. It was evident at times last year that DJ Moore wasn’t going at full throttle. He’d run routes a little too lackadaisically. There seemed to be a disconnect between him and Williams, which he didn’t work hard enough to bridge. Whatever the issue was, he can’t afford to lean on previous success this year. Johnson doesn’t seem interested in how he catches the ball. It is more about what other things he can do besides that. If he’s only worried about his numbers, he won’t last long under this staff.
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Now that he has Burden breathing down his neck, the 2025 season might be the most important of his career. The Bears still believe in him. They want him to be part of their ascent back to relevance. However, he’ll have to earn it—no more handouts.
