Chase Claypool’s play so far with the Bears
The Green Bay Packers were heavily invested in trade talks for pass catchers this season before the deadline. The Packers needed a wide receiver earlier this season when they were dealing with several injuries at the position. A report came out after the deadline that the Packers offered a second-round pick for Chase Claypool.
The Bears offered the same draft pick. The Steelers went for what they figured would be a more valuable draft pick, and the Packers went home empty-handed. The move didn’t help the Packers in their quest to reach the playoffs. The Packers have an outside shot of making the playoffs as a wild-card team.
Claypool was paired with former Packers offensive coach Luke Getsy, the Bears offensive coordinator. The past five games have been less than spectacular for Claypool. He’s caught 12 balls for 111 yards and has no touchdowns. The Bears went to him early against the Packers in Week 13, but after a slight injury, Claypool was a non-factor. Claypool finished with five catches for 28 yards against the Packers.
Getsy’s offense
Bears teammates and local media explain Claypools lack of production as a learning curve in Getsy’s offense. The Bears didn’t use him in many series during his first few weeks with the team. Claypool’s best game since the trade deadline was against the New York Jets in Week 12.
With Darnell Mooney on the Bears’ injured reserve after the Jets game, it was expected the Bears would look Claypool’s way more against the Packers. He probably would have had more touches if not for his early injury against the Packers.
All that being the case, the Packers shouldn’t feel too bad at this point for missing out on Claypool. A second-round pick is expensive for a 1.5-year loan. Although Claypool will certainly grow into a more stable wide receiver for the Bears next season. He probably wouldn’t have been able to make a major impact for the Packers until the playoffs, as he’d have to learn the Packers’ offense. The Packers needed an impact player to get them to the playoffs first.
Rookie wide receiver Christian Watson has been that kind of a guy the last month. The second-round pick has shown that he can play as the wide receiver of the future for the Packers. Adding Claypool wouldn’t have fixed their biggest issue this season, the defense.
