Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus revealed DJ Moore was injured when he pulled himself out of a play after the receiver’s effort was questioned.
On Sunday, the Bears were blown out on the road versus the Arizona Cardinals, losing 29-9 as Caleb Williams and the offense struggled immensely. Williams finished with 217 yards but only completed 22 of his 41 attempts.
Moore hit headlines in the aftermath of the result as fans saw him walk out of bounds in the middle of a play despite quarterback Williams scrambling to find an open target. The viral video shocked some fans, who took to social media to express their surprise and concern at a player who appeared to give up on a play.
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However, Bears head coach Eberflus addressed that narrative while speaking with reporters on Wednesday. He revealed Moore simply rolled his ankle, saying: “That’s what I saw and that’s what it was.”
Moore appeared to be limping when he departed the field, with the receiver immediately going to sit on the bench. Williams, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, had scrambled to the other side of the field but was ultimately unable to connect with Keenan Allen near the right sideline.
Moore also spoke about the incident, declaring: “I was coming back because I’d seen Caleb scrambling, and my ankle went in and out. I already couldn’t stop, so my momentum took me out of bounds, and I just walked off. The noise, I heard it and seen it. I really didn’t care. So, it is what it is.”
The incident had originally appeared to be the latest worrying incident concerning Bears players in recent weeks. After the last-gasp defeat to Washington, Bears corner Tyrique Stevenson was forced to issue a sincere apology for taunting Commanders fans during the final play of the 18-15 loss.
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Matt Eberflus is under pressure to retain his job as the Bears offense struggles (
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In a viral clip, Stevenson can be seen clashing with members of the crowd as the ball is snapped, with the cornerback only realizing that the ball was live once Commanders wide receivers were already downfield. Washington rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels hurled a 52-yard prayer towards the end zone, and the panicked Stevenson managed to get a hand on the ball, tipping the ball in the air and into the arms of wide receiver Brown for the touchdown.
Amid questions of Bears players’ effort and commitment to Eberflus, the head coach needed to shut down rumors regarding Moore. But while there may be tension in the locker room, reports suggest Eberflus is in line to retain his job at the end of the season which is surprising given the offensive struggles endured.
With the Bears on a two-game losing skid, Eberflus’ capacity to lead a winning team and guide a quarterback prospect like Williams has been questioned. Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is expected to be a coveted hire in the offseason and is believed by many to be the perfect mind to mesh with Williams.
However, there might not be a post to fill. The 4-4 Bears are next in action against fellow rookie Drake Maye’s 2-7 New England Patriots on Sunday, Nov. 10.
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