Many Chicago Bears fans were ready to move on from Keenan Allen following what was ultimately his first and last season with the club. Folks in the Windy City claimed the veteran wide receiver was washed up. Those same people are eating those words through two weeks of the 2025 NFL campaign and probably miss having him on their side.
Allen, 33, has quickly put that narrative to shame in the early stages of his reunion with the Los Angeles Chargers. He's been incredibly effective thus far this year and a vital asset to their 2-0 start. Meanwhile, the Bears' offense, specifically their passing attack, has already sputtered out of control.
If only the Bears had an experienced, sure-handed safety valve to help stabilize their erratic operation. Oh, wait, they did in Allen -- only to let him walk in free agency this past offseason.
It only took 2 games for the Bears to regret letting Keenan Allen leave in free agency
The Bears need much more than Allen to overcome the 0-2 hole they've dug themselves into. However, he'd undeniably make the ongoing problems in Chicago easier to solve, at the very least. The team didn't adequately replace him and is feeling the loss of his absence.
Bears supporters can't help but wonder how the Williams-Allen tandem would've fared in Year 2. They began to put it together down the stretch of 2024, suggesting that another training camp might've done wonders for their budding chemistry. Instead, Chicago pivoted to Olamide Zaccheaus, a fine yet underwhelming and unheralded alternative.
While Allen is no longer the elite separator he once was, the six-time Pro Bowler is as reliable as they come. His strong hands and exceptional route-running ability have enabled him to overcome the diminishing physical skills that come with aging and remain a solid contributor. The volatile Bears surely could've benefited from having a steady presence like this as they get acclimated to head coach Ben Johnson's complex scheme.
Only seven players boast a higher passer rating when targeted than Allen's 137.8 across two games (minimum 10 routes run). He's averaging a healthy 2.26 yards per route run and commanding a strong 26.2 percent target share. Those numbers are in line with some of the league's premier pass-catchers, like Arizona Cardinals standout tight end Trey McBride.
Read more: 2 games into the 2025 season and the Bears might regret passing on Tyler Warren
It took no time for Allen to re-establish his rapport with Chargers star quarterback Justin Herbert. The two have picked up right where they left off prior to the former getting traded to Chicago in March 2024. Their mind-melding connection took time, which Bears signal-caller Caleb Williams wasn't afforded.
Note: Stats courtesy of Fantasy Points' data suite ($).