DJ Moore and the Chicago Bears have had a rough couple of weeks. In Week 9, the Bears lost 29-9 to the Arizona Cardinals, and Moore was spotted walking off the field mid-play.
The video of him caught a lot of traction on social media, and many criticized the wide receiver for his commitment to the team.
DJ Moore Clarifies Walking Off the Field in Week 9
The media recently asked Moore about that incident, and the Bears star gave a valid reason for walking off to the sidelines.
Wait….DJ Moore walked off the field on a play?? pic.twitter.com/YWf2YjaBmq
— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) November 4, 2024
Moore apparently tweaked his ankle during the play, and the momentum took him out of bounds. Since he couldn’t make a contribution after stepping out of bounds, he decided to go to the bench as he was also in pain.
“I tweaked my ankle. I was coming back because I saw Caleb scrambling, and my ankle went in and out… My momentum took me out of bounds,” said Moore. “Then I just walked off, which the noise I hear it, seen it, but we didn’t care. So it is what it is.
“The initial roll of the ankle was hurting bad. So, that’s why I hobbled off and sat down, and then I came back in… I didn’t stop playing the game.”
DJ Moore on taking himself out mid-play last week pic.twitter.com/5JGVswNHr8
— Dave (@dave_bfr) November 6, 2024
The video, which went viral on social media, showed that Moore was hobbling while going off the field. Yet, people drew various conclusions about that, questioning the wide receiver’s effort. He also mentioned that nobody on the team had any problem with it, and the media could spin it around as they wanted.
Moore signed a four-year, $110 million extension before the start of the season. He has 37 receptions for 374 yards and three touchdowns on 60 targets in eight games this season.
Bears’ Poor Offense May Get Matt Eberflus Fired
Before the start of the season, many predicted that the Bears would have one of the best offenses in the league. However, the story has been entirely different. Chicago is ranked 29th in the league in passing yards per game (182.1) and is scoring 21.5 points per game (19th).
The Bears have lost their last two games and are 4-4 on the season. Caleb Williams has failed to meet expectations so far, and head coach Matt Eberflus could get fired if things don’t improve.
Chicago’s loss to the Washington Commanders in Week 8, which came after Jayden Daniels converted a Hail Mary attempt, was a big blow for Eberflus. The Bears have a good defense, but if the head coach fails to put the rookie quarterback in a position to succeed, he will ultimately take the fall.
The Bears have a star-studded offense, and many candidates, including Detroit’s Ben Johnson, will be interested in becoming their next head coach. Eberflus is walking on thin ice, and if the team doesn’t turn around its season, he could be looking for a new gig come 2025.
Chicago’s next three games are against the New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota Vikings. If Eberflus’ defense fails to stop Drake Maye, another rookie quarterback, his time in Chicago is all but done.
The Bears are in a must-win situation against the Patriots and have to win at least one of the next two to remain in the thick of the playoff race.