Justin Fields on Darnell Mooney: He’s one of the hardest workers I know

Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields has always been a big fan of Darnell Mooney. The duo became fast friends after Fields was selected in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft and have built a chemistry off the field that’s translated into success on it.

Expectations were high for the Fields-to-Mooney combo in 2022, but a slow start for the Bears’ offense, combined with a late-season ankle injury for Mooney, made for a disappointing campaign. Mooney finished last year with just 40 catches for 493 yards and two touchdowns.

But that’s all in the past now. Mooney deployed his trademark work ethic this offseason to recover in time for training camp, and his efforts have earned praise from Fields.

“One thing about Mooney: He’s one of the hardest workers I know,” Fields said made its rounds on Twitter. The once sub-180-pound wideout has bulked up to the point that Fields said some performance-enhancement tests could be coming (tongue-in-cheek, of course).

“We made a few jokes, saying that the NFL’s gonna drug-test him soon because it looks like he’s been on a few steroids,” Fields said. “He’s been working hard, trying to get back right. We always joked with him last year on how skinny he was. So he’s definitely put on some weight and ready to go.

“I’m excited to see his comeback, and I know he’s gonna come back better than he was.”

Mooney has been a forgotten man amidst all the changes the Chicago Bears have made on offense over the last few months. The trade for DJ Moore pushed Mooney down the pecking order in the passing game, and the one-day good, the next-day bad reports surrounding Chase Claypool have clouded headlines.

All the while, Mooney has put in work. And it’s that work that could pay off in production that rivals his 1,000-yard season in 2021 and a handsome second contract with the Bears by season’s end.