LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) -- Bears general manager Ryan Poles believed competition would reveal clarity at his team’s wide receiver position, but injuries have taken a toll on those hopes.
With 18 days remaining until their season opener, the Bears have great uncertainty at wide receiver. Behind top target Darnell Mooney, there are voids on the depth chart.
Acquired by trade in July, N’Keal Harry suffered an ankle injury on Aug. 6 and is expected to miss the start of the regular season. Signed to a one-year deal in March, Byron Pringle could also miss the start of the season while dealing with a quad injury. Rookie Velus Jones Jr. and veteran addition Tajae Sharpe are both currently sidelined with undisclosed injuries, and David Moore was placed on injured reserve Sunday.
The Bears have six healthy wide receivers in practice recently – Mooney, Equanimeous St. Brown, Dante Pettis, Chris Finke, Isaiah Coulter and Kevin Shaa.
“Injuries are a part of the game,” St. Brown said. “I’ve been injured. When people get injured and go down, the next person has to be ready and has to know what they’re doing.”
St. Brown, 25, has emerged as a reliable target for second-year quarterback Justin Fields, who has noted St. Brown's comfort in new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy’s scheme. St. Brown played for the Packers for the past four years, three of which were under Getsy.
St. Brown had just 37 receptions and a touchdown in 37 games in Green Bay, struggling to establish himself in the Packers’ plans on offense. He has a new opportunity now with the Bears.
“He really doesn’t make mistakes when it comes to running the plays,” Fields said. “He’s definitely always in the right spot and knows where to be on certain plays. He’s a weapon in this offense, for sure.”
If St. Brown can provide consistency and production for the Bears, the group will become less of a concern. But with the key injuries at the position, Fields and the offense are already relying on St. Brown more than they anticipated.
Pettis has 52 receptions over four NFL seasons. Finke, Coulter and Shaa have each never been targeted in a regular-season game.
Poles and the Bears will likely be active on the waiver wire following the deadline next Tuesday to cut rosters to the 53-man limit. There will be plenty of receivers available to place a claim on. While those players will have been cut for a reason, the Bears should land an upgrade for their group. Of course, any wideout signed after rosters are cut will be arriving days before the regular-season opener and will face a difficult acclimation process.
It all means there’s added pressure on Fields as he prepares for his second season without stability at wide receiver.
“As receivers, we’ve got to make him right,” St. Brown said. “If we make mistakes, he makes us right. So, it’s a team effort and we’ve got to work with each other.”
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
Listen live to 670 The Score via:
Audacy App | Online Stream | Smart Speaker