Bears wideout embracing expanded role heading into 2025 season

The Chicago Bears are putting a lot on wideout D.J. Moore's plate in 2025, and early in the preseason, he's embracing it all.

On Monday, Moore spoke with the Chicago Sun-Times about his increased workload out of the backfield, and the veteran receiver, entering his eighth NFL season, is ready for the challenge.

"It's daunting, but I get paid the big bucks to do it, so why not?" Moore said.

Last July, Moore and the Bears agreed to a four-year, $110 million extension. Chicago originally acquired Moore as part of a trade that sent the No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft to the Carolina Panthers.

Moore has been one of the league's most underappreciated wide receivers throughout his career. Since entering the league as the No. 24 overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, Moore ranks sixth in the NFL in receiving yards (7,531). Despite his on-field production, Moore has never made an All-Pro team or Pro Bowl roster.

In 2023, his first season with the Bears, he set a career-high with 1,364 receiving yards and eight receiving touchdowns. Last season, he had a career-best 98 receptions.

Finding more creative ways to get the ball into arguably their best skill position player's hands can only help the Bears' offense under second-year quarterback Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. 

For his career, Moore has 57 carries for 431 yards and one rushing touchdown. His most effective season came as a rookie, when he gained 172 yards on 13 attempts (13.2 yards per carry).

First-year Bears offensive coordinator Declan Doyle praised his playmaker's versatility, telling the Sun-Times, "D.J. is one of those guys that you really love when the ball is in his hands. He's very natural back there."

The Bears are hoping for better offensive production under head coach Ben Johnson, the former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator who has built a reputation as one of the league's best offensive minds.

Last season, Chicago ranked 28th in scoring (18.2 points per game) and last in total offense (283.5 yards per game). 

It might take some thinking outside of the box for the Bears to have a respectable offense. It's a promising sign that Moore is receptive to whatever the coaching staff throws his way.