Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Caleb Williams and DJ Moore admit their connection on the field hasn’t met expectations through the first eight games of the season.
“Obviously, it’s not in a place — from the past games — where we would like it,” Williams said Wednesday. “Both of us. It’s frustrating because you’ve got a guy that’s so special, and not being able to connect and hit on certain passes is frustrating for myself, and I know it’s frustrating for him because, as a wide receiver, especially, you only get but so many chances, so many times the ball comes your way in a game and things like that.”
Moore’s Past Successes Highlight Current Struggles
Moore, a seasoned receiver now in his seventh NFL season, had a standout year in 2023 but has only recorded one 100-yard game so far in 2024 (five catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns in Week 5). In recent losses to Washington and Arizona, Moore had just six catches for 60 yards on 11 targets.
Over his career, spanning five years in Carolina and two in Chicago after being traded as part of the 2023 deal for the No. 1 pick, Moore has played with 13 different quarterbacks, including Williams. He reached over 1,000 receiving yards four times (2019-2021, 2023). Last season, he racked up 1,364 yards and eight touchdowns, catching passes from both Justin Fields and backup Tyson Bagent.
When asked why building chemistry with Williams has been slower than with Fields, Moore didn’t have a clear answer.
“I couldn’t tell you,” Moore said. “I mean, just reps? You can say Justin had more reps when I got here than me and Caleb have, just him being a rookie quarterback and Justin wasn’t a rookie quarterback last year.”
Since his strong showing in Week 5, Moore has only managed 80 yards and no touchdowns over the last three games.
Communication Is Key
Williams believes better communication during games is the key to improving their connection.
“I think talking a little bit more and communicating a little bit more about specifics of ways I see it and the ways he sees it, ways he’s seeing it, and then keep going from there,” William said.
Moore agreed, noting how clearer communication could have prevented a missed connection during a back-shoulder pass in Arizona.
“Just knowing who we’re going against, the one-on-one matchups that we might have throughout the game and then understanding on the back end, the reads and where we’re at in situations, where he’s going through the read and how fast I’ve got to be or how slow I’ve got to be to stay in his vision,” Moore said. “That’s the little details I can think of.”
Scoring Needs Improvement
Before Chicago’s 35-16 win over the Jaguars in London on October 13, Moore praised Williams for taking command of the offense, saying that Williams being more assertive was key to getting the team’s top playmakers involved. The Bears managed 10 touchdowns leading up to their Week 7 bye but have only put up 24 points since then.
“We’ve just got to get back to scoring,” Moore said. “We just had a game where [kicker] Cairo [Santos] had all the points, and that leaves us all with a sour taste in our mouth. We want to go out there and score touchdowns for the team, the fans, the organization, which we need to do at any cost, whether it’s throwing the ball, running the ball, defensive touchdowns. Somebody’s got to score some touchdowns.”
Moore also addressed the moment during the Cardinals game when he left the field in the first quarter while a play was still active.
“Tweaked the ankle,” Moore said. “I was coming back because I’d seen Caleb was scrambling. My ankle went in and out. I was already — couldn’t stop, so my momentum took me out of bounds and then I just walked off. The noise, I hear it, seen it. Really didn’t care. It is what it is.”
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This report used information from ESPN.
