Bears Get Innovative as Injuries Deplete Wide Receiver Depth

Bears Get Innovative as Injuries Deplete Wide Receiver Depth

The Bears entered the season with a talented but thin wide receiver corps, which took a hit on Sunday when Tyler Scott was a healthy scratch and DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, and Rome Odunze were injured during the game.

With Odunze (knee) unlikely to play against the Texans and Allen (heel) also questionable after missing Thursday’s practice, the Bears need to piece together a receiving group. Wide receivers coach Chris Beatty noted that Scott will “get some opportunities soon” and praised Carter, primarily a special teams player the last two seasons, saying, “A lot of people don’t know how good he is.”

Beatty also mentioned Jones as a receiver option, though the Bears chose Carter over him against the Titans and even lined up running back D’Andre Swift at wide receiver.

Carter played 13 snaps on offense, the second-most he’s had in the last two seasons. In 2022, Carter recorded career highs of 46 catches, 538 yards, and three touchdowns for the Chargers.

Passing game coordinator Thomas Brown suggested another solution: using tight ends Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett to fill the gap at receiver. “We trust every receiver we activate on game day, but having those two tight ends gives us flexibility,” Brown said. “We can use Gerald in the slot as a receiver in certain situations.”