Chicago Bears Roster: 5 positions which improved in 2021
By Ryan Heckman
Chicago Bears Roster: Wide receiver improved in 2021
What an overhaul the Bears have had at wide receiver this year. A season ago, the team went into the 2020 campaign with Anthony Miller, Riley Ridley, Ted Ginn Jr. and Javon Wims on the roster along with Allen Robinson and Darnell Mooney.
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Now, those first four are long gone. In their place are veterans Marquise Goodwin, Damiere Byrd, Nsimba Webster and Breshad Perriman. Not only are those four a cut above last year’s group, but the Bears also have Dazz Newsome and Rodney Adams on the practice squad — two players who could absolutely make an impact in the regular season if they were called upon.
Last season, Miller, Ridley, Ginn and Wims combined for 612 receiving yards. Last year alone, Damiere Byrd finished with 604 yards on his own. If we look at Byrd, Goodwin and Perriman in their last seasons played, they combined for 1,295 yards receiving. That’s clearly a step up from what the Bears had in their wide receiver room last year.
Goodwin and Byrd are going to make stretching the field something this offense can do on a regular basis, especially if somehow they are out there with Mooney in some fashion. Perriman is an interesting add because he’s shown he’s capable of stretching the field at times early in his career, and as the team’s fifth wide receiver, the Bears couldn’t go wrong.
Webster will help big time on special teams as well, with Tarik Cohen missing time. Webster can act as the team’s starting punt returner as he has plenty of experience there. The Bears are extremely well-rounded within this group, and fans should be excited.