Wide receiver DJ Moore has been a bright and shining light in a mostly bleak and, at times, dreadful Chicago Bears season.
The talented 6-year veteran is now forced to step into the doldrums as he waits to see what the future holds for quarterback Justin Fields.
With Justin Fields, the Chicago Bears are at a crossroads.
Between now and the 2024 draft, major decisions about the team’s future, specifically Fields’ future with the team, will have to be made. Moore, on the other hand, has made it clear that he is perfectly fine with the decision to keep Fields and continue building around him.
When reporters questioned him at Halas Hall on Thursday, he addressed the situation.
“I didn’t know that,” Moore said when told of Fields’ positive attitude and ‘I’ll be fine’ attitude about possibly losing his starting spot in Chicago. “If he feels that way, there’s not much you can do but go out there and be yourself, and he’s a dynamic player, dynamic quarterback.” We need him here. I’ve had a fantastic year with him, so that should speak for itself. “At the end of the day, just leave what they do upstairs, upstairs.”
He would then go on to discuss his thoughts on Fields’ progress as a player.
“The big thing, from Year 1 and 2, he made big strides is what I’m hearing and what I’m seeing out there with his passes, his decision making,” Moore went on to say. “Year 3 is most likely the most critical year.” I’m sure it was for me. I took the plunge. It was like that, and I had whatever you want to say about it. He’s still young, so he’ll continue to develop and improve.”
Is Justin Fields’ time with the Chicago Bears coming to an end?
Moore, 26, joined the Bears during the offseason in a mega-trade with the Carolina Panthers that saw the Bears send over their first-round pick in 2023 in exchange for Moore, the Panthers’ ninth overall pick, a first-round pick in 2024, and a second-round pick in 2025.
Fields’ three-year tenure with the Bears could come to an end with this deal, as the team will have the option of selecting blue chip quarterback prospects Caleb Williams and Drake Maye with their first-round pick from the Panthers this year.
Moore is a pro’s pro, but he’s done well working with Fields, and it’s clear where he wants the team to stay when it comes to quarterback.
DJ Moore and Justin Fields Work Well Together
Moore and Fields have developed a great rapport with one another since the offseason, and it has shown in their field play. Moore has 1,003 receiving yards through 12 games, making him only the 12th receiver in Bears history to do so. He’s also ninth in the league in receiving yards and on pace to finish the season with more than 1,400 yards.
Fields connected with Moore late in the game for a 36-yard completion that led to a game-winning field goal by Cairo Santos in the team’s 12-10 victory over the Vikings on Nov. 27. One could easily see that as a potential watershed moment in Justin Fields’ development and, perhaps, a testament to the fact that if you surround him with the right players, things could go increasingly well.
But only time will tell if Fields will be given the opportunity to continue developing with the team that was originally aiming to build their future around him.
Time will also tell whether DJ Moore will have to continue doing his thing with another quarterback tossing the ball to him.
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