Following a historic season where he broke the all-time single-season quarterback rushing yards record, Justin Fields established himself as the true franchise quarterback of the Chicago Bears. But the Bears realized Fields’ damage against defenses came mostly through the ground, and that he needed help to boost his passing efficiency and spearhead his development as a passer.
In order to do that, the Bears traded away the first overall pick for a massive haul that included former Carolina Panthers star wide receiver D.J. Moore. They then used the 10th overall pick to draft their cornerstone right tackle in Darnell Wright. Back in March, they signed pass-catching tight end Robert Tonyan.
Those moves and others should help Fields see his passing numbers spike this season. We’ve already seen a glimpse of it, as in the first preseason game, Moore took a screen pass 63 yards for a touchdown.
The Fields to Moore connection continues to blossom less than a week later, with video surfacing of the wideout making a fantastic one-handed grab during the Bears’ joint practice with the Indianapolis Colts.
D.J. Moore makes awesome catch at Bears practice
It wasn’t only the catch; the slick route and getting both feet in-bounds showcased what Moore is all about. It was these types of plays that the Bears simply didn’t have at their disposal last season.
There are high expectations for Fields in 2023, and having Moore to make life easier should help the quarterback reach his goals.
