Dontrelle Inman is set to play for the first time in Week Nine. Is it possible that in eight games he can become the Chicago Bears leading receiver?
While the Dontrelle Inman trade did not open Sports Center, and there were not hot takes or overreactions, it was still a significant trade for the Bears. This is a talented defense with an offense trying to keep up. Any signs of improvement from that unit make the Chicago Bears a more formidable team overall.
So while the Inman trade is minor, it is almost easy to argue that he is the most talented receiver on the Bears. Especially on the outside. Tanner Gentry and Tre McBride have seven catches combined this season. Inman has had over seven catches in two games in his career. Not a significant upgrade, but an upgrade nonetheless.
However, the question will be whether or not he can catch Kendall Wright and Tarik Cohen, who are vying for the team lead in receiving yards. Wright has 259 yards, and Cohen has 239. Could Inman catch them?
It is in the books but seems unlikely. In the one season he played 16 games, 2016, a half of a season would put him at 405 yards. He has never been a top receiving threat before which could boost that up. However, the Bears are a run-first offense, and Mitchell Trubisky is not the caliber of player that Philip Rivers is (yet).
Next: Tarik Cohen needs to be involved in pass
Add in that the two have only practiced for about two weeks, and it may take a game or two to find a connection, and the 400 seems right, if not a ceiling for a player like Inman moving forward. Both Wright and Cohen should be beneficiaries, or at least having someone to worry about on the outside, and Dowell Loggains should have spent two weeks finding ways to get Cohen involved in the passing game more. These two should be the top two in receiving yards, but it should be a lock that Inman will finish third on the team in receiving yards, and it may be surprised how close he is to the two by the end of the season.