Two New Bears Receivers Had Similar Careers

Dante Pettis, who signed with the Bears, always has owned a nose for the end zone but also has had trouble staying healthy after a solid start, and receiver Tajae Sharpe followed the same career path.

It's a few more receivers for the collection, as the Bears sort through various free agent possibilities to help Justin Fields.

Former Giants and 49ers wide receiver Dante Pettis signed a one-year deal with the Bears on Wednesday, according to NFL Network. At the same time, former Titans-Vikings-Falcons receiver Tajae Sharpe also signed with the Bears.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Pettis was the 44th pick of the 2018 draft by the 49ers out of Washington but has suffered through a career plagued by injuries and a lack of production. 

He finished last season on injured reserve after developing a shoulder injury. The Giants had cut him just before the regular season, then claimed him back Oct. 19, but he went on IR three weeks later.

Knee injuries helped hold Pettis to 23 games played and 38 receptions for 576 yards in his first two seasons in San Francisco, then he was waived Nov. 3 in 2020 after getting into just five games. One of the knee injuries was a season-ending 2018 MCL sprain suffered in his team's loss at home to the Bears.

In 33 games and 12 starts over four seasons, Pettis has 52 receptions for 739 yards and nine touchdowns. His career high total receptions and yards came as a rookie with 27 for 467 yards.

Pettis' claim to fame in college was blazing speed and returns, but this was before his NFL injuries. Pettis ran a 4.32-second 40-yard dash and at Washington set the NCAA career record with nine punt return TDs. 

Pettis averaged 14.2 yards as a punt returner in college, including 20.4 his senior year when he had four of his TD returns. In the NFL, though, he averaged only 3.2 yards for 13 punt returns.

One benefit of signing him is bringing in a receiver who has worked with Bears receivers coach and passing game coordinator Tyke Tolbert in the past.

Sharpe is a 6-2, 194-pound Titans fifth-round pick in 2016 who had a solid start to his career but tailed off after a few injuries. The former UMass receiver had 41 catches with Tennessee as a rookie, gaining 522 yards with two touchdowns.

Then he never had more than 26 in any season.

He made 25 catches last year for 230 yards with the Falcons and in 2020 played in only four games for Minnesota without making a catch. He has made 117 catches for 1,397 yards with eight TDs in his career, which spans 66 games and 36 starts.

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