On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
The Chicago Bears have built out a fearsome wide receiver room with a terrifying trio of DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Luther Burden. However, they aren’t the only Bears receivers generating buzz heading into training camp.
Chicago signed veteran pass catcher Olamide Zaccheaus to a one-year contract during the offseason. He was added before the team drafted Burden, changing the Bears’ wide receiver plans slightly. Still, Zaccheaus should have a firm role in head coach Ben Johnson’s offense.
He may not catch as many passes as he did in 2024, but Zaccheaus offers much more on the gridiron. In fact, Bill Barnwell of ESPN thinks the veteran is the best fourth receiver in the entire NFL.
“Zaccheaus is undersized at 5-foot-8, 193 pounds, but he has still carved out a role in the NFL by being an aggressive, willing blocker,” Barnwell wrote. “He was effective as both a blocker and receiver on the tunnel and bubble screens the Commanders ran last season; he was also capable of finding holes in coverage out of the slot.”
“He averaged a respectable 1.9 yards per route run last season, just ahead of DK Metcalf (Seahawks) and Jordan Addison (Vikings). And while Zaccheaus is never going to command their sort of target share, the 27-year-old is one of the league’s most effective wideouts without the ball in his hands,” he continued. “He even ran through tackles in the Eagles’ secondary for a critical score in the fourth quarter of a December win over the eventual Super Bowl champs.”
What Olamide Zaccheaus offers Chicago Bears
With the three names ahead of him, Zaccheaus may be asked to block more or work as a decoy on screen plays. However, if Johnson’s offense is as explosive as expected, there will be opportunities for Zaccheaus to catch the ball. He’s proven he can shine when given the opportunity throughout his six-year NFL career.
The 2024 season saw Zaccheaus appear in all 17 games with the Washington Commanders, starting six. He made a career-high 45 receptions for 506 yards and three touchdowns. Zaccheaus’ 64 targets were a new career high, showing that ex-quarterback Daniels had full confidence in him.
Johnson is still trying to build the foundation of his passing attack, centered around Williams. Players like Rome Odunze and Luther Burden maximize the ceiling to new heights. But receivers like Zaccheaus, and DJ Moore, offer a solid floor as well. Zaccheaus won’t get the headlines, but he’ll be a valuable option for Williams and company.
The Bears didn’t expect to be landing Burden in the second-round. But Johnson won’t turn down having trusted pass catching from his first through fourth options.
Ben Johnson’s passing attack
The Lions finished their 2024 campaign ranked second in passing, averaging 409.5 yards per game. It’ll be up to Williams to help the Bears fly up the rankings. But Johnson proved he was able to get numerous receiving targets involved in Detroit.
During his final campaign, both Amon-Ra St. Brown (1,263) and Jameson Williams (1,001) broke 1,000 yards, scoring 12 and seven touchdowns respectfully. Sam LaPorta matched Williams’ seven scored, adding 726 yards. Overall, five players had at least 300 receiving yards and three scoring touchdowns.
Moore will occupy the WR1 role will Odunze will start opposite of him. Burden will man the slot. But Zaccheaus, as well as tight ends Cole Kmet and Cole Kmet will be involved as well. It’s a tricky puzzle to put all the pieces together, but opposing defenses will have a tough time stopping the Bears’ offense as well.
All eyes will be on Johnson and Williams when the Bears take the field. While he isn’t the first pass catcher you’ll think of in Chicago, don’t be shocked to see Zaccheaus come up with a number of crucial plays throughout the season.
More must-reads:
- Commanders' Terry McLaurin reportedly wants more money than previously thought
- Giants rookie shines again, completing promising preseason
- The 'NFL QBs with the most games started' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
TODAY'S BEST
Bill Belichick takes another shot at Patriots owner Robert Kraft
It is no secret that the relationship between Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft has been strained since Belichick left the New England Patriots. Belichick took an obvious shot at Kraft and the Patriots owner's son, Jonathan, who is the president of the team, during an interview with Ben Volin of the Boston Globe that was published on Thursday. Belichick is preparing for his first-ever season as a college coach with North Carolina. When asked what he has noticed that is different about coaching in college versus the NFL, Belichick insinuated he has enjoyed not having to answer to any members of the Kraft family while doing his job in Chapel Hill. "It’s a much more cohesive, and I’d say unified, view of what we’re trying to do and how we’re trying to do it," Belichick told Volin. "It’s a lot of football, and there’s not much in your way. "There’s no owner, there’s no owner’s son. There’s no cap, everything that goes with the marketing and everything else, which I’m all for that. But it’s way less of what it was at that level." Shots fired. There is no way to interpret that other than a criticism of Robert and Jonathan Kraft. Had Belichick left it at not having to answer to a team owner, you could make the case that he was speaking generally about the NFL. The fact that he added in "owner's son" makes it obvious he was referring to his old bosses, as both Robert and Jonathan are hands-on with the Patriots. Belichick is almost certainly bitter over the way his tenure in New England ended following the 2023 season. He coached the Patriots for 24 seasons and won six Super Bowls, so he likely felt he should have been given more time to turn things around in the post-Tom Brady era. The Kraft family preferred to move on after a 4-13 campaign. Though Belichick insists he is solely focused on the upcoming UNC season, this is not the first time in recent months that he has gone out of his way to throw a jab at Robert Kraft.
Green Bay Packers: Mike Macdonald’s First Message to Matt LaFleur After Mayhem-Marred Practice
Joint practices in the NFL can be really heated. Just take for example the one involving the Green Bay Packers and the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday, with fights erupting on the field between players from both sides. Even though it’s just a practice session with nothing significant on the line, the competitive juices of players can get in the way and spark fiery moments on the field. If anything, at least no one appears to have been seriously hurt from the multiple altercations reported. However, Packers right tackle Zach Tom was reportedly tossed out of the field after throwing punches at a couple of Seahawks players. Despite all the chaos that transpired between the Packers and the Seahawks, Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald had great things to say about Green Bay. Seahawks head coach sends message to Matt LaFleur, Green Bay Packers Brady Henderson of ESPN noted that Macdonald started his session with the media after the practice, “by thanking Packers coach Matt LaFleur and the organization for hosting them.” In any case, Macdonald felt good overall about his players. “It’s hard to tell what happened, who said what,” Macdonald shared. “Look, you want your guys to defend their [teammates]. There’s a line. Whether we go past the line, I don’t think we did, which is good. Our guys stayed composed. But some of these things do tend to happen, and however it gets started … hopefully it’s not our guys, but people are going to react to a certain extent. I think our guys handled it pretty well.” The Packers and the Seahawks will still see each other on the field this offseason, as they are scheduled to play in their 2025 NFL preseason finale on Saturday at Lambeau Field.
'Look out for this dude': Former NFL exec has warning about unexpected SEC quarterback
Browns 'trust' Dillon Gabriel more than Shedeur Sanders for a very good reason
The Cleveland Browns seemed to say plenty regarding their feelings about rookie quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders when they repeatedly listed Gabriel above Sanders on unofficial depth charts throughout August. Sanders played well in Cleveland's preseason opener at the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 8 when Gabriel was recovering from a hamstring injury. Gabriel then received his opportunity to shine in the Aug. 16 preseason matchup at the Philadelphia Eagles when Sanders was dealing with an oblique issue. For a piece published on Thursday, Jason Lloyd of The Athletic suggested that the stats from those contests show "the Browns trust Gabriel more than they do Sanders" heading into their Week 1 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7. "The Browns used pre-snap motion 45 percent of the time with Gabriel against the Philadelphia Eagles," Lloyd wrote. "They used it 31 percent of the time in Sanders’ game against the Carolina Panthers, according to TruMedia data. On third downs, that increased to 63 percent for Gabriel and plummeted to 18 percent for Sanders." The Browns selected Gabriel in the third round of this year's draft before they made a trade to take a flier on Sanders at overall pick No. 144. Against the Panthers, Sanders completed 14-of-23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns. To compare, Gabriel connected on 13-of-18 passes for 143 yards with a pick-six against the Eagles. He was also credited with a lost fumble. "Gabriel was three of four on [tight-window throws] against the Eagles, according to NextGen Stats, and two of those turned third downs into first downs," Lloyd added. "Sanders was zero for four on tight-window throws against the Panthers." It's worth noting that none of this matters as of publication. Veteran Joe Flacco will serve as Cleveland's Week 1 starter, and the Browns seem serious about having Flacco, Gabriel, Sanders and backup Kenny Pickett on the active roster through at least a portion of the upcoming season. The trade deadline will arrive on Nov. 4. Lloyd mentioned that "a fear that Sanders may develop elsewhere" is a reason the Browns are holding onto the former Colorado star when they prefer Gabriel. As of now, Sanders is on track to continue his development while working in the Browns film room as an unused quarterback throughout the fall.
Steelers have unexpected solution as exciting new trade target emerges
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ wide receiver room had excited the fan base with the thought of DK Metcalf and George Pickens. However, Pittsburgh made the stunning decision to trade Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys, deciding that the headaches surrounding his attitude and maturity were no longer worth the talent he brought on the field. While the move shocked Steeler Nation, it left the offense in a new position. Now, all eyes are on Aaron Rodgers and Metcalf to form a lethal duo. A report has emerged detailing Rodgers' "different" type of impact on the Steelers offense, but questions remain about the depth behind them and whether Pittsburgh has enough reliable playmakers to balance the passing attack. Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson will be tasked with stepping into larger roles in 2025, but their consistency will be tested against elite AFC defenses. Austin has flashed big-play ability, yet durability and reliability have been concerns. Wilson, meanwhile, has impressed in early practices with his speed and precise route running, but as a “redshirt” second-year player, expectations must be tempered. Pittsburgh has long relied on developing homegrown wideouts, but with the team’s Super Bowl window tied to Rodgers’ short tenure, the urgency to add proven production is greater than ever. That’s why many Steelers insiders believe general manager Omar Khan may not be finished building this roster. On social media, Steelers media personality Chris Mueller revealed that Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce could be available. He believes he actually is available already, which could be a huge win for Khan and the Steelers. "Indy's Alec Pierce is evidently available," Mueller shared to his social media following on Thursday. "I'm absolutely picking up the phone if I'm Omar Khan. Led NFL in YPC last year. Very similar skill set to Pickens. Big downfield threat. I think could turn into a good WR2 long-term." At just 25 years old, Pierce is an intriguing target with size, athleticism, and untapped potential. Mueller has urged Khan and the Steelers to pick up the phone and call the Colts, noting that Pierce could immediately bolster depth and provide another trustworthy option for Rodgers, who just received a public apology from one of his teammates. With preseason battles heating up and the AFC loaded with firepower, the idea of adding Pierce to a Metcalf-led receiver room is something that would certainly energize Steelers fans once again. The idea of Khan pulling off a trade to land Pierce is certainly an exciting thought. He’s not yet a household name in the NFL, but over his three seasons in the league, Pierce has shown impressive downfield ability and the skill to stretch defenses. While he isn't as talented as Pickens was overall, he does bring a similar vertical presence that forces opponents to respect the deep ball. Steelers seriously should try to land Alec Pierce Pierce is coming off a 2024 season where he caught 37 passes for 824 receiving yards and scored seven touchdowns. What stands out the most from that campaign is his remarkable 22.3 yards per catch, which led the league and shoes how dangerous he can be when stretching the field. Over his three seasons in the league, Pierce has managed to average 17.6 yards per catch, consistently ranking among the league’s best deep threats. Statistically speaking, he is very similar to Pickens in that regard, making him an intriguing replacement candidate who could give the Steelers the kind of explosive element they lost when they dealt away their young star receiver.
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
