It took solely three snaps Sunday for the soccer to come back Chase Claypool’s manner. And whereas his first reception as a Chicago Bear was removed from spectacular — Miami Dolphins cornerback Kader Kohou knifed in to cease the short move for a 1-yard achieve — the reception from the Soldier Field crowd was something however peculiar.
A roar echoed off the lakefront and added to Claypool’s Week 9 welcome. For a 24-year-old receiver who desires to really feel needed, that provided a heat greeting, the loudest cheer he had ever gotten for a 1-yard catch.
“That was pretty cool,” Claypool stated.
What a wild week it turned out to be.
The earlier Sunday, Claypool had 4 receptions and 45 yards for the Pittsburgh Steelers in a 35-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He was getting ready to exhale over the Steelers’ bye week. But by Wednesday morning of final week he was as a substitute on a flight to O’Hare International Airport, traded to the Bears for a second-round choose.
Claypool raced to Halas Hall, met briefly with coaches, was proven to his locker and ate lunch. Then he made his method to the apply area within the snap of a finger to proceed a fast-paced orientation.
So a lot for the decompression. Suddenly, Claypool was diverted into an intense cram session, needing to study the Bears offense in speedy trend and, on the very least, perceive his performs and tasks for the sport towards the Dolphins.
Practices. Meetings. Hours of homework. Video tutorials from offensive coordinator Luke Getsy. That all led Claypool into his first recreation and to that first catch and finally to the second at which he may have punctuated his Chicago arrival with a giant fourth-quarter catch on the Bears’ remaining drive with the sport on the road. But area decide Ryan Dickson apparently didn’t see Dolphins cornerback Keion Crossen grabbing Claypool’s waist and pulling him backward earlier than a Justin Fields deep ball arrived. What ought to have been a 37-yard pass-interference penalty or a deep reception to push the Bears into field-goal vary resulted in an incompletion with 1 minute, 29 seconds remaining.
The Bears misplaced 35-32.
Claypool was nonetheless a bit dizzied from every thing afterward.
“It was a whirlwind for sure,” he stated. “Early mornings. Late nights. Studying the playbook six or seven hours per day. I’m just trying to get all the information down.”
As chaotic and demanding because it was for Claypool to arrange for what turned out to be a 26-snap workday, getting via Sunday’s recreation additionally lifted him over a hurdle.
“It settles me down a little bit,” he stated. “It’s been a crazy experience. (On Sunday) I was bouncing off walls, trying to do everything perfect and put this little blanket of pressure on myself. Now that I’ve settled in, I can take a deep breath.”
On Sunday night time, after a postgame dinner with family and friends, Claypool lastly had a possibility to catch his breath. “That was a good reset for me,” he stated. “Just to chill, recover and prepare for the next week.”
Now, as he readies for Game 2 as a Bear towards the Detroit Lions on Sunday at Soldier Field, he’s feeling a larger sense of calm and luxury. As a lot as something, Claypool is feeling valued by the Bears. Perhaps that may assist gentle the wick for larger manufacturing.
After apply Wednesday in Lake Forest, the third-year receiver wouldn’t go into depth about why his time in Pittsburgh ended abruptly, significantly noteworthy after he racked up 1,733 yards and 11 touchdowns over his first two seasons.
But he has insinuated a number of instances prior to now week {that a} window of alternative appeared to shut on him with the Steelers. For no matter cause.
“At some point, I just think their perspective on me (changed),” Claypool stated. “It was like, ‘He’s not a red-zone threat’ for some reason. Or ‘He’s not a deep-ball threat’ for some reason. I’m not sure when that happened. But I started getting formationed away from those things. So it became super hard for me to make big plays. Because any time there was a big play drawn up, I was on the other side.”
In his first recreation as a Bear, the ball got here Claypool’s manner on eight of the 26 snaps he performed. He had two catches for 13 yards, a run for 4 and drew an opening-drive pass-interference flag that netted 28 yards. Getsy clearly wasn’t hesitant to get his new playmaker concerned. Fields confirmed his belief too.
“It was a cool experience to have a team that wants you like that and wants to get you involved,” Claypool stated.
Added Fields: “The more he’s with our offense, the more he practices, I think the more he’ll be able to focus on the details of each and every route.”
With eight video games remaining, the Bears have time to carve out a correct area of interest for Claypool, who is keen to get a handful of big-play alternatives every week. His rising consolation — with the offense, together with his environment, together with his teammates — ought to assist.
After one week in Chicago, Claypool has wrapped his arms across the recent begin with a crew that desires to assist him maximize his skills.
“They look at me as a valuable player, obviously,” Claypool stated. “That’s why they traded for me. And I think they’ll give me more opportunities to make plays. It’s just a matter of time to get that ball rolling.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com