Packers safety Xavier McKinney just gave DJ Moore incredible bulletin board material

Sometimes, a little bulletin board material is all an NFL player needs to break out of a slump. For Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore, who’s undoubtedly underperforming through nine games this season, he was handed a heaping plate of “get fired up” by Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney.

In an interview with The Athletic this week, McKinney ripped into Moore for walking off the field midplay during Chicago’s Week 9 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

In case you don’t know what I’m referring to, here was the play (in which Moore rolled his ankle and took a moment to gather himself):

Didn’t notice this live, but on this extended scramble play that ended in OPI on Keenan Allen, DJ Moore took himself off the field with what looks like some kind of injury. He limped off at the end and sat on the bench. pic.twitter.com/YTnrZNDYfW

— Nicholas Moreano (@NicholasMoreano) November 4, 2024

“This dude walked out on … I’ve been playing (NFL) football for five years now and I’ve been watching football for longer than that and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a … You’re supposed to be the guy and you’re just walking off the field,” McKinney said. “You’re walking off the field on a rookie quarterback that you’ve been praising, so it’s like, that’s a whole other story.”

Yiiiiikes.

McKinney didn’t stop there. He called Moore’s explanation for the walk-off (his ankle injury) a lie.

“Cap,” McKinney said. “That’s what I say. Cap.”

He kept going.

“Playing in the league, every Sunday, Monday, Thursday, I’m watching the games,” McKinney said. “I’ve got Sunday Ticket, so I sit in my room. I’ve got a TV, my monitor and I watch every game. I’m paying attention to formations, little things, how people are playing when they’re up, how people are playing when they’re down, what players are doing.

“(Moore) is another one of those guys, same guy, play’s still going on and you walk off the field on your offense. You know, you take note of that. Everybody takes note of that and we see it and we’re going to work it accordingly.”

DJ Moore vs. Xavier McKinney is must-see TV

McKinney is obviously still upset over Moore’s preseason comments after the Packers signed him in free agency. In an appearance on Up and Adams, Moore basically shrugged his shoulders and acted as if McKinney’s coming to the NFC North was… no big deal.

Unfortunately for the Bears, it has been a big deal. McKinney is Pro Football Focus’ third-highest graded safety (minimum 100 snaps), posting a near-elite 89.5 grade. His six interceptions are tied for most at the position. Meanwhile, Moore has the worst PFF grade of his career (65.7) by a wide margin.

Nine games into the 2024 season, Moore has managed just 40 catches for 398 yards and three touchdowns, a far cry from his career-best 2023 season, when he caught 96 passes for 1,364 yards and eight scores.

Perhaps this is the spark Moore needs to return to his alpha ways. Let’s be honest, Moore has looked sluggish and disinterested at times this season. It’s probably been the most frustrating development of the season, considering the Chicago Bears signed him to a monster four-year, $110 million contract in the preseason.

I kind of like Moore getting called out. If anything will wake him up, it’s this. If nothing else, it’ll be a fun layer to an already league-best rivalry.