Chicago Bears 2015 Position Preview: WR
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Backups
Marquess Wilson
At this time last year, Wilson was one of the most exciting players in the Bears camp. He spent the offseason working out with Marshall and Jeffery in Florida and was arguably the most “buzzy” player on the squad. A preseason clavicle injury quelled the talk of Wilson’s breakout season and he didn’t end up seeing the field until week 11.
Once Wilson was given a chance to play, he didn’t do enough to earn a spot in the starting lineup in 2015. He had a negative grade from Pro Football Focus in 6 of the 7 games he played in and had only 17 catches for 140 yards and 1 TD. With the new management regime having no ties to Wilson, this is a make-or-break season for his future with the Bears. The odds are against Wilson beating out 1st round pick Kevin White for a starting job, but OC Adam Gase used 4-WR sets often in Denver so Wilson has a chance to see the field this year and prove that all the talk of his potential last offseason wasn’t unwarranted.
Josh Bellamy
Showed flashes of NFL talent in the preseason last year, but only saw 11 snaps on offensive and didn’t see a target. Bellamy has the size (6’0 | 205), speed (4.47), soft hands, and ball skills to become a useful NFL receiver, but will need to show more value on special teams than he did last year to earn a spot on the Bears roster in 2015.
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Marc Mariani
The Bears signed Mariani off the street half way through last season and he improved the Bears kick-return game during the 2nd half of the season. Mariani averaged 25.5 yards per kick return last year which was good for 9th in the NFL (and better than Devin Hester’s 25.1). He only has 5 catches in his 5 year NFL career and hasn’t caught one since 2011, but coming out of college (Montana) he was considered a sure-handed slot receiver who would lay-out to make a catch or block and make people miss after the catch. Mariani is a long-shot to have any impact as a receiver, but could carve out a role as a Wes Welker type if given a chance.