Bears kick the tires on free-agent veteran WR with upside

The Chicago Bears are set to kick off their first 2025 training camp practice in just a couple of days (July 23), but that doesn’t mean that GM Ryan Poles is done adding talent to the roster.

The Bears recently worked out six veterans, with the most interesting of the bunch being veteran wide receiver D.J. Chark.

Chark emerged as one of the NFL’s top young receivers when he registered 73 catches for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns for the Jaguars in 2019. It was his second year in the league.

Injuries have derailed his once-promising outlook, and he’s been forced to take a series of one-year prove-it deals since signing with the Lions in 2022. He’s played for the Panthers and Chargers over the last two seasons and hasn’t had more than 706 receiving yards since that 1,000-yard season.

Still, the 28-year-old pass catcher is staying in shape and waiting for a call from his next employer.

“It will have to be something that makes sense, from a family perspective and also from an X’s and O’s perspective,” Chark said of his next destination. “Getting up and going to any team just for the excitement — I’ll always love the game, but at this point, putting myself and my family in a great position is what’s ideal for me.”

Why would the Chicago Bears sign WR D.J. Chark?

The question all Bears fans should ask themself is why the Bears would have any interest in Chark at all.

As it currently stands, Chicago will begin training camp with DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III, Olamide Zaccheaus, and Devin Duvernay at wide receiver, among others.

If Chark were signed, he wouldn’t be a lock to unseat any of those five Bears pass catchers. You’d have to imagine there are better opportunities for him elsewhere.

Still, the Chicago Bears must think D.J. Chark could offer something the roster is currently lacking. Perhaps the workout was to get eyes on him for potential future opportunities. Regardless, if the Bears sign Chark, a receiver who we thought was a lock to make the final roster could suddenly be in trouble.