Nov 20, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Chase Claypool (10) prepares for a game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
NFL: Chicago Bears at Atlanta Falcons
CHICAGO — Chase Claypool’s career with the Bears is over.
Bears HC Matt Eberflus said Claypool will remain away from the team ahead of Week 5’s matchup against the Commanders.
This was the only natural outcome for Claypool, who is reportedly on the trading block after falling out of favor with the team.
Claypool was not in attendance at Soldier Field for the Bears’ 31-28 loss as confusion lingered about whether he opted to stay away or was told to by the team.
Asked why Claypool wasn’t on the sideline like the other inactive players, Eberflus said: “I’m not sure. … We told him that it was a choice and he’s at home right now.”
The receiver said the Bears were using him correctly within their offense, and that he was trying to make the most of the situation despite it.
“I think every situation has the ability to be ideal, and I think we’re just working towards that,” Claypool said. “I’m not going to say that. I wouldn’t say it’s not an ideal place for me. Obviously, there’s other places — you can say, ‘Oh, I want to be on the best offense with the highest passing yards,’ but that doesn’t happen in football. You just have to make do with what you got.”
The Steelers traded Claypool at the trade deadline last season in exchange for a second-round pick. That pick eventually turned into the 32nd, which they used to select Joey Porter Jr.
Their will presumably still be a market for the 24-year-old, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see a team offer up a late Day 3 pick in next year’s draft to take a flier.
The Bears have bigger problem on tap after they fell to 0-4 losing its last 14 games.
