DJ Moore: Bears Will ‘Ride Through H-E-L-L and Back’ with Caleb Williams in 2024
zach bacharContributor IMay 25, 2024
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Chicago Bears wide receiver D.J. Moore expressed his support of Caleb Williams ahead of the quarterback’s rookie season.
“We’re gonna ride through H-E-L-L and back with him, so I’m just looking forward to seeing what he put out,” Moore said, per Grant Gordon of NFL.com.
After recording a career-high 1,364 receiving yards during his 2023 campaign with the Bears, the 27-year-old is looking forward to sharing the field with Williams in 2024.
Moore has been impressed with the former USC standout’s leadership and poise during OTAs.
“You can see that the natural leadership is there, the natural arm talent is there,” Moore said, via Gordon. “Everything about him, it’s just always a positive thing. Even when he has a bad play, he’s looking to learn real fast right after. That’s all you can ask of him, for him to quickly forget but also learn at the same time.”
Williams’ arm talent was one of the many reasons why the Bears selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft. He’s coming off two exceptional seasons with the Trojans, winning the Heisman Trophy in 2022.
While USC finished with a modest 8-5 record in 2023, Williams still met expectations. He completed 68.6 percent of his throws for 3,633 yards, tossing 30 touchdowns compared to just five interceptions. Williams also added 11 more touchdowns on the ground.
The 22-year-old has already experienced the ups and downs of being a rookie quarterback in the NFL, reportedly struggling during Thursday’s practice session (per Gordon). Still, Moore wasn’t concerned.
“You just gotta know that the growing pains are going to be there,” he said.
The Bears’ passing offense should be a strength in 2024, as Williams and Moore will have some talented company. Chicago traded for six-time Pro Bowl wideout Keenan Allen on March 14 before selecting Washington receiver Rome Odunze with the No. 9 overall pick in the draft.
Moore made it clear on Friday that Allen, Odunze, and the rest of the Bears have full confidence in Williams ahead of his rookie season.