Bear Digest

How Ben Johnson's Bears Offense Recovers from Loss of DJ Moore

DJ Moore's departure might leave a roster hole but the impact on the Bears' offense should be negligible moving forward based on what happened in 2025.
Gene Chamberlain|
Rome Odunze reacts after catching a pass against the Los Angeles Rams in the playoffs.
Rome Odunze reacts after catching a pass against the Los Angeles Rams in the playoffs. | David Banks-Imagn Images

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Chicago Bears

DJ Moore's departure leaves a hole in the hearts of Bears fans, and of this there is little doubt.

The outpour of social media fan affection for the new Bills receiver says as much.

It probably doesn't leave the same sized hole in this Bears offense because he hadn't been essential most of the season. In fact, the Bears had to go out of their way to try and get him the ball at times, as Caleb Williams hunted and found Rome Odunze, Luther Burden, Colston Loveland, Cole Kmet or even running back D'Andre Swift in a balanced passing game.

"I know Ben was very intentional  with getting him the football to create opportunities," general manager Ryan Poles said at the combine. "But when you have Colston start to pop up, Luther, Cole, Rome was going through different things throughout the season, but started hot early, so a unique situation overall.

"But I know we were happy with him  (Moore) throughout the entire season.”

There was no reason to be unhappy, as Moore twice made the big plays at crunch time to beat the Packers. That much is certain.

However, whether it was not running the route correctly, like at the end of the playoff loss to the Rams, or Williams simply not realizing when he was open, Moore was not the primary target like someone needs to be if they're responsible for a $28 million salary cap hit.

Ben Johnson's offense revolves around the slot receiver and the move-tight end positions. Johnson  acknowledged this much before the Bears even reported for offseason work last year.

It was taxing the Bears' play caller to find ways to get the ball to Moore. This is not slighting Moore's skills as much as it is an explanation for how Johnson works his attack.

Here's how this all became most obvious.

Receiving EPA

Odunze took heat for not stepping up, but he had a broken foot in the season's second half. He is the receiver who must ascend the most now with Moore gone, although it was apparent he had already made strides with five touchdown catches in the first four games. Odunze still finished No. 1 in receiving EPA for the Bears at 67.95. That was 28th in the league among receivers who ran at least 100 routes, fourth in the NFC North and one spot ahead of Romeo Doubs. Moore was 40th in the NFL at this (55.18).

Remember, EPA is the analytic Johnson looks to most, as he said last offseason.

Targeting efficiency

Despite Odunze's injury and resulting decreased production, he still finished with more targets to routes run than Moore and was second on the team only to  Burden, at .22. Burden was 20th in the league at the targets to routes run ratio at .25. Moore was 95th in the league at this at .15.

Of even more importance, Burden and Odunze both were better  than Moore at yards gained per route run.

Burden wound up third in the entire NFL behind only Puka Nacua and Jaxson Smith-Njigba at this with 2.67 yards per route run. Odunze was at 1.6, which was 48th in the NFL. 

Moore was 83rd at 1.22 and within the division he trailed his teammates and 10 other wide receivers.

Yards after catch

Burden led the team with 334 yards after the catch for his receptions Moore and Odunze were nowhere near as explosive after making receptions. Moore had 222 yards, or 112 less than Burden, with 20 more targets (85). Odunze was just below Moore at this with 214 in YAC on 90 targets.

Crunch time

Sure, Moore made the two plays to define their success by beating Green Bay. However, he has already been replaced as Mr. Clutch in the Bears' offense.

Colston Loveland made 16 third-down receptions, which tied for 37th in the league. Odunze had 16 as well.  In fact, Moore wasn't even next best on the team as Olamide Zaccheaus made 15.

Moore had a dozen third-down receptions and 64 NFL players made more.

Certainly fourth quarters are crunch time. Loveland made 22 fourth-quarter receptions, which was 15th in the league. Odunze had 11, second most on the team. Moore made 10 and was 105th in the NFL.

Moore leads the way

What Moore led Bears receivers at was making catches on first-and-10 with 23. This was 34th in the league. His yardage total on those was 305, tied for 28th. However, his yardage total didn't lead the team.

With two fewer first-down receptions (21), Burden was 13th in the NFL in first-down receiving yards with 393, 88 more than Moore.

Moved on

The Bears had ready moved on in so many ways from the time when Moore was their essential receiver.

They truly had balance among the group, with Odunze's efforts early  going largely unappreciated because he faltered while trying to play with a broken foot. Burden and Loveland, meanwhile, rocketed into prominence and figure to only make bigger impacts going forward because Burden had only 12 catches and Loveland 11 through six games last years as they fought through slow starts due to missed offseason or training camp time—and simply being rookies.

There will be those who fear defenses were cheating toward Moore and leaving other receivers open. If this happened at all, it was early in the year before it became apparent they had so many other weapons for Willliams and an attack geared toward the move-tight end and slot.

What Johnson needs now to get the attack rolling the way he had it in Detroit in Year 2 as coordinator is the world-class speed he had from Jameson Williams.

The Bears have speed, but don't have that precious element of elite speed.

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Gene Chamberlain
GENE CHAMBERLAIN

Gene Chamberlain has covered the Chicago Bears full time as a beat writer since 1994 and prior to this on a part-time basis for 10 years. He covered the Bears as a beat writer for Suburban Chicago Newspapers, the Daily Southtown, Copley News Service and has been a contributor for the Daily Herald, the Associated Press, Bear Report, CBS Sports.com and The Sporting News. He also has worked a prep sports writer for Tribune Newspapers and Sun-Times newspapers.

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