The Chicago Bears need somebody to step up at wide receiver. It’s becoming painfully evident how thin the team is at the position right now. Dante Pettis is a disappointment. Velus Jones hasn’t gotten going. Equanimeous St. Brown is a great blocker but an average pass-catcher. Darnell Mooney is good, but teams can key on him with no second threat. Somebody needs to take advantage of this wide open competition. It appears one man is ready to stake his claim for Justin Fields‘ attention.
The Bears acquired N’Keal Harry via trade from New England before the start of the regular season. GM Ryan Poles felt his talent was worth exploring in exchange for a late round pick in 2024. Unfortunately, an ankle injury sidelined the former 1st round pick before the season began. Only a week ago did he finally return. After doing nothing in New England, Harry chose his moment well with a big 17-yard touchdown grab in the first half against Dallas.
Harry is exactly what Justin Fields needs.
The Bears’ primary issue at wide receiver this season is not having any guys that can make tough, contested catches. Mooney, Jones, and Pettis have all been guilty of drops or bobbles whenever they’ve been well-covered. The difference with Harry is he has great hands. His calling card in college was winning those 50/50 matchups regularly. Throw in his 6’4 size, and it’s easy to see why the Bears found him appealing.
That TD catch is bound to get him on Justin Fields’ good side. Quarterbacks throw the ball to those they trust. Trust is built by making every catch possible. Harry doesn’t have the stigma of some brutal drops like others do. That gives him a leg up moving forward. It comes down to how many more snaps he gets. Don’t be surprised if he’s on the field more often in the second half and moving forward.
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