Chase Claypool injury update: ‘Back to being the strongest and fastest I’ve ever been’

Chase Claypool is ready to return to the football field after missing the entire 2024 season. He signed with the Buffalo Bills last year, but didn’t suit up due to a toe injury in August and was eventually released.

But after a couple of down seasons featuring time in Chicago and Miami, Claypool feels better than ever. Originally a second round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers out of Notre Dame, Claypool got off to a hot start in his career.

Safe to say, he’s ready to get back to that point. He did a lot of reflecting over the weekend. 

“My first season-ending injury in 18 years came at the worst possible time. I felt like God was playing a joke on me,” Claypool wrote on Instagram. “It’s been a year since I’ve posted on Instagram, and almost nobody knows what actually happened to me. Signing with Buffalo was the best thing that could’ve ever happened to me. I was the strongest, fastest, and most prepared I had ever been. I was playing my best football — working my way up from LAST (14th) string to taking first-team reps by camp. Most of all, I was doing it with a group of guys I truly appreciated.”

Claypool thanked the masses for his time in Buffalo, despite it not working out. He now awaits his next opportunity, claiming his back and better than ever.

“I want to thank Josh for taking me in the way he did, AJ and Greg for showing me the kindness they did, the entire receiver room who made me feel like family, the O-line for having my back always, and my receiver coach, who never failed to check on me throughout this entire last year — sending me motivational videos and helping me get past what I was going through. As well as a thank you to Coach McDermott and Beane for affording me the opportunity. It was a pleasure.”

Over the course of his career, Claypool has 175 catches, 2,261 yards, 13 touchdowns and 12.9 yards per catch. He set career highs as a rookie in 2020 with 62 catches, 873 yards and nine touchdowns.

“I tore a ligament and a tendon in my second toe and have been rehabbing, working out, and recovering every day for the past year,” Claypool wrote. “I am back to being the strongest and fastest I’ve ever been and couldn’t be more excited to step back out on the field and let my actions speak for themselves. I deeply and truly believe that the pieces will align, and I will work my way into the position to show off what’s been suppressed these last two years. Happy Fourth and God bless — I got love for you all.”