The injury bug continues to hit the Chicago Bears and has arrived ever since the start of training camp. The receiving corps has thinned out since camp started in late July, and it may be time to see what talent is available in free agency.
The question keeps resurfacing whether new general manager Ryan Poles gave Justin Fields enough skill and talent at the wide receiver position to succeed. Year two for Justin Fields is expected to see large amounts of growth from the young quarterback in Luke Getsy’s new offense. Poles’ first offseason assignment was to improve the roster through the draft, which he did by adding to the secondary with the first two picks in cornerback Kyler Gordan and safety Jaquan Brisker.
Now, it’s hard to evaluate without seeing the production on the field, but having passed on what was yet another heavy wide receiver draft on guys like George Pickens and Alec Pierce, the hopes are Chicago’s new rookies are as good as the reports coming out of camp.
The Chicago Bears may need to consider giving Justin Fields more help in 2022
Poles did not fail to get his hands on a receiver in the draft, because in the third round Velus Jones Jr. was selected. Although Jones Jr. has next-level speed, he has gotten knocked for being a 25-year-old rookie. Jones has shown great consistency and maturity in camp so far but still has yet to see his potential on the field.
There was not much spending in free agency by the Chicago Bears towards the position either. Chicago brought in Equanimeous St. Brown and Byron Pringle — both on a one-year deal. Both have also shown flashes of potential from their time in Green Bay and Kansas City, but there is a reason they are both still on a prove-it deal. Developing chemistry with Justin Fields has to emerge, along with seeing how they stack among the rest of the receivers.
Chicago also made a trade for former first-round pick N’Keal Harry from the New England Patriots. The Chicago Bears sent a 2024 seventh-round pick. Harry who has wanted out of New England for some time finally gets a fresh start but is going to now miss time.