Is Bears WR Chase Claypool headed for the inactive list?

The list of reasons why the Chicago Bears lost their Week 1 game against the Green Bay Packers is long. Whether you want to blame Justin Fields, the offensive line, or Luke Getsy for the offense’s problems is up to you. No matter who you point your finger at, you aren’t wrong.

Some fans are defending Fields, others believe in Getsy’s system, and there’s a strong support group for the offensive line. But there’s almost universal disgust for the performance of wide receiver Chase Claypool, who looked disinterested and unprepared to play in the opener.

Claypool logged 58 snaps and was targeted just two times. He didn’t record a catch and was one of the lowest-graded Bears in Week 1 by Pro Football Focus.

Claypool’s 43.2 grade ranked 16th out of 18 Bears who were graded on offense, and his 31.0 run-blocking grade was the worst on the team. He was so bad that his spot on the active roster is legitimately in danger. Veteran Equanimeous St. Brown, who was inactive in Week 1, offers more in the run game and could replace Claypool in Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“We’re looking at all possibilities right now,” Bears coach Matt Eberflus said Wednesday. “I’m not going to talk about who’s going to be up or down for the game right now, for obvious reasons. We’re looking at all things to make our team better — Who’s going to be up and who’s going to be down in terms of the active roster.”

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Claypool is in the final year of his contract and is jockeying with Darnell Mooney, who’s also in his contract year, for a lucrative second deal with Chicago. In seven games with the Bears last season, Claypool totaled just 14 catches for 140 yards and zero touchdowns.

Expectations for the former second-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers are high in 2023 because of his assimilation into the Bears’ offense. Chase Claypool’s lack of production in 2022 was excused because he was thrust into a new offensive system midseason. With a full offseason of work under his belt, that excuse no longer exists.

Claypool needs a strong week of practice to get another chance at gameday reps. Perhaps the Chicago Bears aren’t ready to pull the plug on him just yet and will give him a few more games before making a drastic decision about his roster status. Regardless, it feels like a tough decision is coming soon.

Claypool has as much natural talent as any receiver in the NFL. But if he doesn’t show more effort on the field, he won’t get a chance to put it on display for the Bears.

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