Much has been made this season of the regression from Chicago Bears receiver DJ Moore. The talented pass catcher had offered inconsistent production prior to injuries, opening the door for the receiver once again to be the primary option. Both Luther Burden and Rome Odunze missed last week, and Moore stepped up with five catches for 97 yards and a touchdown in a 22-16 overtime win over the Green Bay Packers that helped Chicago control its destiny in the NFC North.
When the season mattered most, Moore delivered, and now it appears that the receiver might be put back into a familiar position. The Chicago Tribune's Brad Biggs reported that both Burden (ankle) and Odunze (foot) weren't on the field for Tuesday's practice when the media had access. This doesn't come as a surprise, with both players dealing with noteworthy injuries.
The Bears are slated for an incredibly important Sunday Night Football matchup with the San Francisco 49ers in a game with a lot of seeding implications. Now, it appears that Moore could yet again be the primary target in this spot after delivering against the Packers.
Bears Receiver DJ Moore Appears Slated for Another Huge Game After Latest Injury Report
Even if Odunze and Burden return, it is still very probable that the offense could opt to focus on feeding Moore. Both players are clearly still hampered if they are unable to fully return to practice early in the week. Protecting two key stars ahead of a potential playoff run is a wise move, whether this means fewer reps or opting to let one or both players heal for another week.
Beating the Packers in overtime without either player taking the field was indicative of the offensive ceiling even without their full group of weapons. This adds to the case that the Bears can get by one more week with Moore as the focus and another encouraging sign was the numbers that Phillip Rivers put up on Monday Night Football against the 49ers.
The 44-year-old quarterback, fresh off spending five years either on the couch waiting for a job or in retirement, put up 277 passing yards and added a pair of passing touchdowns. With this in mind, it is fun to imagine what Williams might accomplish against this group, even if he doesn't have the benefit of his full group of weapons.
If anything, building the confidence of Moore and getting Burden and Odunze as healthy as possible is the best path for Chicago. While the injury report isn't ideal, it can work in the Bears' favor and shouldn't deter the excitement of a fan base that has been waiting for far too long for Moore to catch up to Ben Johnson's offense.