Chicago Bears wide receiver Chase Claypool is tipping the team to be one to watch in the upcoming NFL season.
A year after setting franchise records for total losses (14) and their longest losing streak (10), the Bears sound optimistic about their hopes of entertaining, if not necessarily winning. Plenty of those hopes come from the jump quarterback Justin Fields made last term.
The second-year quarterback enjoyed a breakout season in Chicago and became the third player in the position to rush for over 1,000 yards in a year. Baltimore Ravens star Lamar Jackson and long-time Atlanta Falcons QB Michael Vick, who the Bears have brought in to work with Fields this offseason, are the only others to achieve the feat.
Fields also threw for 2,242 yards and 17 touchdowns, and Claypool was on the receiving end of several such passes. And now the wide receiver is confident 2023 will be different for the team.
“I truly believe that this year from last year will be a night and day difference," the pass catcher told talkSPORT. "I think fans will be loving it next year.
"I'm excited, obviously, with the additions that we had in the offseason, but just being able to stack that knowledge from last season, all those learnings and those growth spurts that we had to go through to this season. I think it's going to be great.
Claypool added: "[We're] just an exciting and dynamic team, all together, the offence is going to be explosive, defence is going to be playmakers. I think we're going to be a fun team to watch, and I think we're not going to back down from anyone."
One of those new additions Claypool is excited about, linebacker T.J. Edwards, is equally enthused by the prospect of playing with Fields. That coming from a player used to working with Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is saying something.
Following four seasons in Philly, three of which were alongside Hurts, Edwards has drawn comparisons between the two. "One thing with Jalen (Hurts) was he was always just kind of calm and collected," the linebacker said earlier this month.
"That's why we looked to him so much, just because he was always that calming factor. You do see similarities with (Justin) Fields. "He doesn't seem to get rattled out there in terms of when we're mixing up looks on him and stuff like that."
Edwards is already impressed from practising with his new quarterback during the offseason. "Dude's got such a strong arm, and he's been very accurate just about this entire OTAs and minicamp," the new addition added.
"It's exciting to see, especially since he doesn't really add in the leg factor when we're just in helmets and things like that. So, I'm really excited to play with a guy like that, a guy who can make all the plays and who can also lead this team.
"He's definitely the guy. It's exciting to be around, no doubt."
