DJ Moore could benefit significantly from Chicago’s early bye week

The Chicago Bears were off this past Sunday with their early Week 5 bye, as it comes at a much-needed time due to injuries that had affected the roster. Additionally, the other vital aspect to the early bye week is that first-year head coach Ben Johnson has 15 days to better install his offensive scheme before the team’s Week 6 Monday Night game against the Washington Commanders. One player on offense that could benefit immensely from the two weeks off is wide receiver DJ Moore, who has struggled to be productive and impactful during the Bears’ first four games of 2025.

DJ Moore hasn’t been productive downfield in 2025

When general manager Ryan Poles hired Ben Johnson in January of this year, many analysts and fans felt that the offensive personnel was perfect to maximize Johnson’s offensive scheme, especially at the wide receiver position. DJ Moore was expected to be a significant contributor not only in the passing offense, but also the rushing offense because of how well he is able to assist with his run-blocking. Moore, paired with Luther Burden III and Rome Odunze, were expected to generate yards and touchdowns, yet through the four games only Odunze and Burden are the only receivers to record 100-yard receiving games.

Through Chicago’s first four games of 2025, D.J. Moore has caught 16 passes for 178 yards and just one touchdown, as his average yards per catch is at 10.8 which is three yards less than his career yards per catch average. In Johnson’s new offensive scheme, Moore has been getting targets, but most of his receptions have come on short-yardage throws, including out of the backfield when lined up as a running back. Chicago’s top pass-catcher from the previous two seasons has been effective throughout his career on intermediate and deep routes, but hasn’t been utilized in that way this season.

In the Bears’ four games so far, Moore has only recorded two receptions of 15 yards or more, while only having one contest where he generated 50 or more receiving yards. It has been Rome Odunze who has been Chicago’s best wide receiver, especially on downfield routes, as two of his four touchdown receptions have been throws with 20 or more air yards. DJ Moore has only recorded one catch so far this year where he was targeted downfield on a throw with 25 air yards or more, which came back in Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings.

With two weeks off now before the team’s October 13th contest in Washington against the Commanders, it will be interesting to see if Johnson looks to find ways to get DJ Moore more targets downfield to help boost his production at wide receiver. Chicago’s offensive-minded head coach could be using the off week to devise ways to get other pass-catchers involved, especially with upcoming defenses looking to take Odunze away from quarterback Caleb Williams. We could see scenarios where play-designs are created where Moore is freed up downfield with Rome Odunze being used as a decoy.

Furthermore, Johnson can’t afford not to utilize DJ Moore on deeper routes, given what has been shown from the wide receiver over the past several years since being acquired by the Bears in 2023. Moore has recorded several touchdown receptions over the past two years on throws that generated over 30 or more air yards. With Odunze’s immense success downfield early in 2025, it makes sense for Johnson to want to have the same success for his other wide receivers who have already shown success downfield or that have the potential to be a deep ball threat.

DJ Moore has been significantly hindered by the Bears’ running back issues

One of the other reasons why DJ Moore hasn’t been utilized even more downfield through the first quarter of the 2025 season is due to the severe lack of production coming from the running back position. Johnson has been forced to use Moore as a running back because of the struggles of D’Andre Swift and rookie Kyle Monangai, which has included the wide receiver garnering rushing attempts lined up as a halfback. Although Chicago’s head coach has notoriously used wide receivers in the backfield of his offensive scheme, it seems this year it’s being done more out of necessity.

With the trade deadline coming at the end of October, many analysts and insiders believe that the Bears will be trading for a veteran running back to help better the position for the remainder of the season, with ball-carriers like Alvin Kamara and De’Von Achane being rumored trade targets. If Chicago can acquire a running back who can be productive running the ball, it could allow Johnson to utilize DJ Moore as a true wide receiver, which would include more downfield routes. Moore is one of the few receivers in the NFL that is universally effective when being deployed on any type of passing route.

If Chicago does acquire a running back that be effective running the ball, it will help the passing offense, due to Johnson’s reliance on setting up passing-plays off of play-action. With a successful play-action play-design, it will help free not just DJ Moore, but all of the pass-catchers on offense as opposing defenders will be briefly frozen by the fake handoffs due to a more credible rushing offense. Moore has proven an ability to gain separation from opposing defensive back with his own skill-set but could be even more productive if he is being schemed open on top of that.

DJ Moore has been one of the league most consistent and productive wide receivers over the last five years, despite working with an instability at the quarterback position whether during his time in Carolina or Chicago. Although Moore has been featured in the Bears’ passing offense this season, he hasn’t been fully impactful as he has been the previous two years. Hopefully with the bye week this past Sunday, Johnson could be able to find a way to involve one of the team’s best offensive weapons on passing plays further downfield.