Here’s what Justin Fields said about Chase Claypool’s development in Bears offense

The lack of talent around Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields has been a dominant storyline since last summer. Wide receiver Darnell Mooney is fine, and running backs David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert warrant respect, but the offense lacks a true game-changer who Fields can rely on when all else fails.

So when GM Ryan Poles traded Chicago’s 2023 second-round pick for wide receiver Chase Claypool at the NFL’s trade deadline, it seemed like the Bears took a massive step toward fixing that problem.

Claypool’s first two games as a Bear have been quiet. He’s totaled three catches for 19 yards. He’s generated hidden yards by drawing pass-interference penalties, but his on-field reps have been limited.

justin fields, chase claypool & the chicago bears got robbed pic.twitter.com/lPmBgmaK4e

— DOM (@DOM_Frederic) November 6, 2022

Chase Claypool’s role will continue to grow

Now entering his third week in Chicago, Claypool’s role is expected to grow. Patience is required, however, when judging the performance of a player who’s learning an entirely new offense in a condensed period.

“He’s coming in and having to memorize the offense, memorize the formations, and not really having that base or foundation like the other guys on the offense have,” Fields said of Claypool on Wednesday. “You kind of have to work him in slowly. Our routes have a lot of details in them, so it’s tough for him to come in and learn every little detail of every route. Just working him in on the plays that he does have and trying to execute the best we can.”

Fields said he and Claypool have been staying after practice to work on their timing, but there’s a realistic chance that the Bears won’t see the true benefits Claypool brings to the offense until 2023. Claypool played just 19 snaps in the Bears’ Week 10 loss to the Lions.

“A lot of times, he’s the primary, and they’re covering that, you go to the secondary,” coach Matt Eberflus said this week of Claypool’s role in the offense. “Getsy and I visited about that (Monday) and that’s pretty much what it was.”

With more reps on the practice field and more snaps on gameday, Claypool’s impact on a game will expand. At 24 years old, he profiles as the alpha wide receiver who will lead the receiving corps for the foreseeable future regardless of how much — or little — he produces over the final seven games of the season.