Eddie Royal a Welcomed Addition to 2016 Chicago Bears Offense
Eddie Royal has been a welcomed addition to the Chicago Bears offense after a disappointing 2015 season.
Eddie Royal’s Chicago Bears career was off to rough start. Ryan Pace signed Royal at the start of the 2015 free agency period. Last season, he appeared in nine games and caught 37 of the 50 passes thrown his way for 238 yards and just one touchdown. Royal missed most of training camp after suffering a concussion. It looked like he was going to be another free agent bust.
So far it 2016, Royal has been a different player. In just three games, Royal has 18 receptions for 240 yards and two receiving TDs while also adding a punt return TD. Royal had the highlight play of the day with his 64-yard reception, the Bears’ longest play from scrimmage this season.
Helluva game by the O-Line. Gave B enough time to find us downfield! pic.twitter.com/dcMCneSViB
— Eddie Royal (@EddieRoyalWR) October 3, 2016
A lot of people were expecting big things from Alshon Jeffery in a contract year, but he’s been laboring through these last couple of games with a bad hamstring and a bad knee. Jeffery struggled against the Lions with just three catches for 46 yards. The Bears have been trying to get Kevin White into the game plan the last couple of weeks as well. White added six catches for 55 yards this week, continuing to build on his Week 3 performance against the Cowboys. He’s starting to flash and gain confidence.
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But it was Royal’s seven catches for 111 yards and a touchdown that highlighted the Bears receiving game. He notched a nice acrobatic catch to open the Bears scoring and proved to be a reliable target for Brian Hoyer and the Bears passing offense.
If Royal can be that slot receiver the Bears have been seeking, it could offer the Bears offense a solid trio of wide receiving targets when/if Jeffery could ever get healthy and White can start figuring out a pro offense. That would be a welcomed addition whether it’s Jay Cutler or Brian Hoyer under center.