Receiver Group Poised for Bigger Numbers

Justin Fields doesn't apologize for saying he can break a Bears passing record.

It's easy to see why he feels like he does when his receiver corps is compared to last year's.

Last week Fields made the pronouncement on a podcast that he could be the first Bears QB to hit 4,000 yards passing, although he has yet to break 2,250. The Bears record is 3,838 by Erik Kramer in 1995.

"I mean, yeah," he said. "Of course, a Bears quarterback hasn’t done it yet, so that would be cool."

Fields looked over at DJ Moore to his right.

"With the help of this guy, hopefully I can get there," he said.

Fields had 2,242 yards last year, to go with 17 touchdown passes.

A vote of players in the league says Fields is No. 86 among all NFL players, 10 spots better than Trevor Lawrence. So, apparently Fields isn't the only one sold on his abilities.

If he really is that good this season, a big reason is going to be the guy who was sitting next to him at the press conference to open training camp. Moore is the key receiver he didn't have last year, and the two seemed to build up a chemistry quickly in the off-season.

"It's never overrated to have chemistry with somebody," Moore said. "Me and Justin, we've got chemistry on and off the field, so that's a plus. Same with me and PJ (Walker). It's always a plus."

It helps Moore to get to know his quarterback because he admits learning coordinator Luke Getsy's offense isn't a simple matter.

"Coming from different backgrounds, offenses, this offense is pretty unique," Moore said. "A lot of different tags and terms, this and that, that I learned coming in.

"It's helped me grow more than I already was. It's just taking me to the next level to understand the main concepts and different terminology behind it."

Wide receiver Chase Claypool found out it can be complicated last season when traded to Chicago at the trading deadline. Speaking of Claypool, Fields believes he won't have problems getting their connection strengthened even after the former Steelers receiver missed three weeks of on-field work in the off-season.

Fields had been saying on social media that Claypool was fine but it didn't appear this way when the Bears first put him on the physically unable to perform list Sunday. Then they pulled him off it Monday when it was determined he's actually all right.

"We actually threw a couple of times up here before we went down to Florida," Fields said.

Fields organized a throwing session with a group of teammates for Florida.

"We were able to get some work in, a little bit, and then he also did come down to Florida as y'all probably saw," Fields said. "We were able to work out a few times before his knee started bothering him a little bit."

Claypool also had a knee issue last season that kept him out two games so it was understandable if they initially had concerns.

"He looked good," Fields said. "He looked good. I'll leave it at that. Like I said in the springtime, he worked really hard from last year to learning the offense and really just putting his best foot forward and just trying to learn.

"I think it was tough last year coming in midseason trying to learn our offense because it's so complex. But this spring, I was proud of him just the way he worked and just really attacked each and every day."

Darnell Mooney missed even more off-season work than Claypool. He missed it all rehabbing an ankle injury, but he's been cleared to practice and actually had been working with Fields as much as anyone before being completely cleared at the start of camp.

"We've thrown a good bit," Fields said. "Moon is a very hard worker so I know he's gonna get back to the spot that he needs to be at. Just trying to get it back to where he was last year and feeling even better. I think that's where we are now."

It was a long process for Mooney after he had "tightrope" surgery, a process meant to strengthen the ankle area.

"He's faced it head up," Fields said. "Every day, he's probably been in here rehabbing, doing two-a-days, working out a lot. Just trying to get back right."

Having all three isn't the only asset Fields has working on his side in building the attack. Last year at training camp he didn't know who any of his receivers would be at camp or the regular season besides Mooney. Now the roles are fairly well set with only one rookie in the top seven, Tyler Scott. Familiarity with the offense in most cases is a real asset.

"I think it changes everything for the offense," Fields said. "I think just knowing those guys' roles and how they're going to be used in the offense. They can take more reps at those certain positions so they're able get on the same page. We're able to have certain conversations on what guys are running certain routes, to talking about if you see a certain coverage they're going to do this or that.

"It is going to help our team, having those guys set in certain positions rather than trying to find out which receivers do what things best."

Fields felt the entire offense emerged from spring work confident there would be huge steps forward.

"I think everyone on the offensive side of the ball is confident," he said. "I think this past OTAs, that was personally our best OTAs, since I've been here."

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