Darnell Mooney Searching Hard for Answers

Darnell Mooney's chemistry with the Bears offense seems to be about as good as it is with the front office at this point.

The Bears still haven't reached an agreement with the Bears veteran receiver at a time when he is struggling to get his name onto the stat ledger on game day.

"I feel like I'm doing everything I can," Mooney said Thursday. "Sometimes things don't fall my way. Unfortunately, that's not what I like. Going to keep getting open and doing my thing and try to win these games for my boys."

Only two catches last week on seven targets represented a tough day for Mooney, who was the No. 1 Bears receiver before DJ Moore's arrival.

However, Mooney keeps finding ways to contribute. He made a huge 28-yard catch Sunday and a 16-yarder. It's just overall numbers that are down.

He hasn't had more than two receptions since the Nov. 5 loss to the Saints. Against New Orleans, he had five receptions for 82 yards, both season highs.

The Bears may need him more than ever this week with DJ Moore suffering from an ankle injury that cost him playing time the last two days, although he did improve enough to take part in a portion of practice Thursday.

Moore's status as the top receiver this year has made it so Justin Fields can't, doesn't or simply hasn't needed to find Mooney in the offense. Whether that's the fault of Mooney, the offensive design, Fields or just Moore being so good, it's difficult to say.

"Honestly, guys, I will not be a distraction to myself or my team," Mooney told reporters. "Whether that's an answer for yes or no, I’m not going to be a distraction for any of my guys on the team or myself.

"So those questions maybe answered whenever the season ends. For now, I'm trying to win these game–win these next couple games and it will be a nice cold night game vs. Green Bay (season ender) and just go out there and get my first dub against those guys."

That night game would mean it carries some signficance for the teams in the playoffs because they're not flexing the game to that night spot if it's meaningless.

Mooney did offer some opinion on why he's not getting it more even if he wouldn't delve into the topic face first.

"The way the plays go, I'm definitely a guy who can get open and get the ball," he said. "Sometimes the defense just takes me out of the way or maybe the guys get back there or whatever. Something happens. It never falls my way.

"I just got to keep on growing and stay ready."

The reason it's important to him personally is the contract situation. His deal runs out at the end of the season and he'll be a free agent in March if unsigned. In the past, his view was "someone will pay me."

"I don't really focus on those things," Mooney said. "I'm just worried about winning these games. Contract wise, who cares?

"It is what it is, can't do anything about it now. Just have to go out there and try to win with my boys."

The bottom line is Mooney doesn't want to leave, so he'd rather not have to be in free agency.

"I want to be here," he said. "I love Chicago. I love being here. So that answer is whatever it is after the season."

To do it at a rate worth his while might take something more than the current reception rate, however.

"It's been like that for me for the past two years," Mooney said. "It's all about the best situation. Whether that be for me or anybody. You always got to be in the best situation to produce as you are as a player. I'm doing whatever I can on the field just to get open, run my routes as fast as I can and get open.

"I'm doing pretty well at that so just got to keep doing that. When the balls comes, just got to make the catch and do whatever I can after the catch."

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