This Chicago Bears player finally gets uptick in playing time

When the Chicago Bears traded for Chase Claypool most fans understood that it would take time to ease him into the lineup. However, not many saw it taking as long as it actually did. Claypool was eased in for three weeks, in which he was a part-time player, and by week four, it was becoming a question of why the team was not giving Claypool more work.

Finally, on Sunday the Chicago Bears started Chase Claypool in three-wide sets, and he finished the game with the most snaps amongst wide receivers.

Chase Claypool becomes Chicago Bears WR1

Some of this could be due to Darnell Mooney leaving the game with an injury, but the reality is that Claypool was lining up with Mooney often in two-wide and three-wide sets. It was clear that he was finally in the top two before Mooney went down, and that just bumped him to one.

Claypool played 35% of the offensive snaps in his first game with the team, and that bumped down to 31% the week after, which had fans confused. Then, the team bumped him slightly up to 42% before he played 67% of the offensive snaps on Sunday.

Another surprising element was seeing Byron Pringle as the second wideout in snaps. What helps Pringle is that he plays outside and in the slot. When Mooney went down, he stepped up, but he was already stepping over Equanimeous St. Brown for snaps.

In fact, ESB was fourth in snaps behind Dante Pettis. Almost all of that has to do with Pettis playing in the slot after Mooney left. ESB was on track to play more in the first half.

Still, the big news is that ESB is losing time to Pringle. He is not going to move into the slot, so this is going to leave Pettis as the primary slot, with Pringle sliding in at times.

So, Claypool and Pringle will be the top outside wide receivers. Pettis will likely be in the slot with Darnell Mooney out, and then when Pringle moves to the slot, ESB comes in. Claypool, ESB, and Pringle is certainly a set to run the football out of.

Lastly, Velus Jones played 12 snaps, 21%. With Mooney out of the picture, he is up to WR5, but he is clearly just used as a gadget player, and even took a snap in the backfield on Sunday.