The Chase Claypool era in Chicago could be heading into disastrous territory.
Bears coach Matt Eberflus did not rule out possibly making Claypool inactive in Week 2 against the Buccaneers following the wide receiver’s much-maligned performance in a humiliating 38-20 loss to the Packers last Sunday.
In what was essentially a glorified cardio session, Claypool did not catch a pass on two targets and put the bare minimum into his blocking.
“We’re looking at all possibilities right now,” Eberflus recently told reporters, according to ESPN. “I’m not going to talk about who’s going to be up or down for the game right now, for obvious reasons. We’re looking at all things to make our team better — who’s going to be up and who’s going to be down in terms of the active roster.”
Claypool provided perhaps the most embarrassing individual performance in all of the NFL in Week 1.
The fourth-year wideout was indirectly accused of “sleepwalking” by “Good Morning Football’s” Kyle Brandt – who did not use Claypool’s name but made it clear about whom he was talking.
A social media clip of Claypool’s plays from Sunday showcased him making a half-hearted block, dropping a screen pass, making multiple terrible blocks and half-hearted route running.
Eberflus told reporters Claypool “displayed good technique in practice.”
“You all saw the plays that … and again, the perimeter blocking needed to improve for all of us,” Eberflus said, per ESPN. “And we’re gonna get that, work hard to get that done.”
The Bears made what appears to be a terrible trade to acquire Claypool last year, and on this current trajectory, it could be one of worst trades in team history.
Chicago sent the Steelers their second-round pick in last year’s draft, which ended up being the first pick of the second round and the 32nd overall selection.
The Steelers used that pick to draft promising Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr.
Claypool has a grand total of 14 catches for 140 yards and zero touchdowns on 31 targets in his first eight career games with the Bears.
