Despite new additions, DJ Moore remains the Bears' number 1 WR

CHICAGO — Around the time spring training was underway in Chicago, DJ Moore sparked competition in the Bears' wide receiver room.

After Chicago sent a fourth-round pick to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for Keenan Allen and then drafted Rome Odunze ninth overall, the receiver position looked drastically different than it did a year earlier, when Moore was traded to the Bears became

Last season it was Moore and then everyone else. Moore posted a career-best 1,364 receiving yards and eight touchdowns as Chicago finished with a 7-10 record. No other Bears receiver had more than 414 yards and a touchdown.

Moore was intrigued by the influx of talent around him this year and the motivation he provided. He announced that the “race to 1,000 yards” was on and received enthusiastic support from the rest of his position group.

After five games, Moore has a solid lead in this race, bolstered by his five caught passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns in a 36-10 win over the Carolina Panthers in Week 5. This increased his season total to 294 receiving yards (10.9). yards/reception), 58.8 receiving yards/game and three touchdowns. Moore ranks in the top 10 among all receivers in targets (42), red zone targets (7) and touchdowns. He ranks 12th with 27 receptions.

And he has a good chance to increase those numbers on Sunday when the Bears take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in England (9:30 p.m., ET, Fox). The Jaguars average a league-high 287.8 passing yards per game.

Heading into training camp, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams thought about the amount of talent around him and whether the Bears' offense needed a pass catcher to excel.

“I don’t know if we need a No. 1 receiver,” Williams said. “I think we have a couple of number one players and that's what we enjoy on the offensive side of the ball because that makes it a lot (more) difficult for the other teams' defenses next season . “18 weeks.”

What is clear now is that Moore is Chicago's No. 1 receiver, at least for now.

According to Next Gen Stats, Moore recorded +15.1 receptions above expectations in 2023, which was the second-highest mark in the league.

Although he may not receive the same attention or accolades as some of the league's most well-known receivers, such as Tyreek Hill, Justin Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase, Moore's accomplishments have made him one of the league's best wideouts. That's why the Bears signed him in July to a four-year, $110 million contract extension with $82.6 million guaranteed (the fourth-most among wide receivers).

It took longer for the connection between Williams and his top receiver to become apparent than either expected. After spending weeks figuring out on-field chemistry, Moore's third touchdown catch of the season – a 30-yard reception that helped Chicago build a 20-point halftime lead over the Panthers – like a breakthrough.

“It was just a point, we put it into practice,” Moore said. “When he threw it, I thought, man, it's a touchdown, because I knew I was crossing a corner and there was nobody in the middle of the field. I thought it was my ball or no one's, and 99% of the time it's my ball.

Behind Moore, Odunze was targeted 29 times and had 15 catches for 206 yards and a touchdown. A heel injury forced Allen to miss Chicago's losses in Houston and Indianapolis. In three games, the 32-year-old receiver has 10 catches for 81 yards. Allen is fourth on the team with 20 targets behind Moore, Odunze and tight end Cole Kmet (24).

It took five weeks for the Bears to surpass 400 yards of total offense in a game, but despite a slow start from Chicago's passing attack, Moore's impact was consistent.

Williams has a QBR of 82.1 when targeting Moore. In comparison, the quarterback has a QBR of 29.4 when targeting Odunze.

The way Williams was able to distribute the ball, with Moore, Odunze and Allen each receiving at least four goals against Carolina, was a crucial step in Williams' development.

“I would just say it's the ability to get the ball to receivers more consistently,” coach Matt Eberflus said. “That was intentional.

“We haven’t had such a big game from the receivers yet. That was the most exciting thing for me.”

And what is also crucial to Williams' development is the patience of an experienced receiver who has consistently dealt with new offenses and new quarterbacks. Williams is the 12th starting quarterback Moore has caught passes from since he was drafted by the Panthers in the first round in 2018.

After missing a wide open touchdown against the Rams at the end of the first half in Week 4, Moore and Williams scored for their first touchdown a quarter later.

“We were all freshmen at some point,” Moore said last week. “So I know what (Williams) is going through. You can’t be too frustrated.”

“I mean, you can be frustrated with the way you play as a player, but not with a young man who's still on the rise.”