Veteran Bills WR Opens Up About 'Frustrating' Slump

Veteran Buffalo Bills wide receiver (WR) Chase Claypool recently opened up about his frustrating slump. He appeared to be a rising star during his first two NFL seasons, but his performance gradually dropped afterward, leading to a significant slump. However, he hopes to turn things around this season.

Claypool signed a one-year deal with the Buffalo Bills this offseason, giving him the chance to compete for a significant role in an offense that lost both of its top receivers. The former second-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers acknowledges his career has fallen short of expectations but hopes to get back on track this year. Claypool said he has been working harder to overcome the slump and revive his career.

“If it’s frustrating to the outside world [not living up to his potential], it’s even more frustrating dofor me,” Claypool said, via ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg. “I understand where I should be. And I understand that I haven’t met those expectations. And that’s why I work harder and harder and harder and harder every year. So, I can meet and exceed those expectations.”

Chase Claypool NFL Career

Claypool’s career has been full of highs and lows

Claypool had a solid start to his career, recording 121 catches for 1,733 yards and 11 touchdowns in his first two seasons with the Steelers. However, he was unable to maintain this performance, and his role shrank before being traded to the Chicago Bears the following season.

Critics intensely targeted Claypool for his low-effort performance in the Bears’ 2023 season opener against the Green Bay Packers. Claypool apologized to his teammates and coaches but later expressed frustration with the Bears, stating that the coaching staff did not put him in a position to succeed. The Bears subsequently sidelined him and traded him to the Miami Dolphins.

During his time with the Bears, Claypool played in ten games, recording 191 receiving yards and one touchdown on 18 receptions. His stint with the Dolphins saw him make just 8 catches for 77 yards and 1 touchdown. Now, having signed a one-year deal with the Bills this offseason, Claypool sees a big opportunity in Buffalo with an offense that traded its No. 1 wide receiver, Stefon Diggs, and lost its No. 2, Gabe Davis, in free agency.

Bills wide receivers coach Adam Henry believes the replacement squad is coming together well, featuring a mix of veterans and promising younger pass-catchers like rookie receiver Keon Coleman and tight end Dalton Kincaid.

The vibe is really good [in the receiver room], because the way I see it, receivers, they all play a certain part, and they’re all not the same, and so that’s what makes it great,” Henry said. “And so, there’s a lot of experience in there just to pull ’em to the side. … The room is really coming together and just creating a culture.