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Courtney Cronin
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Caleb Williams emphasized the need for alignment with his wide receivers after DJ Moore was criticized for his route-running on a critical play that led to a game-changing interception in the Chicago Bears’ 20-17 overtime defeat against the Los Angeles Rams.
Postgame, Williams referred to the interception as a “miscommunication” between him and Moore. He stated that he had not yet discussed the play with Moore by late Monday morning but believes it is important to have a conversation with Moore and the rest of Chicago’s receivers.
“Minor details like that can show up in crucial moments that may not have been discussed, needing to be on the same page, even if it was addressed in Week 1 or Week 6, it can still appear in [Week 20],” Williams explained. “It’s a learning experience for me, as well as for us as an offense and a team. We’ll address it soon.”
Moore was absent from the locker room after the game and during Monday’s locker cleanout.
On their sole possession in overtime, the Bears faced second-and-8 from the Rams’ 48-yard line after Los Angeles went three-and-out to begin the extra period. With a clean pocket and time to throw, Williams aimed for a deep pass that could have put the Bears in field goal range. Instead of connecting with Moore, Williams’ attempt was intercepted when Rams safety Kam Curl intercepted the throw.
Los Angeles took the victory and advanced to the NFC Championship Game after successfully kicking a 42-yard field goal on their next possession.
In the game against the Rams, Moore recorded a team-high five receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown. The 28-year-old receiver faced criticism for seeming to jog on his route and drift upward instead of making a sharp cut across the field after initially starting wide opposite of where Williams aimed.
“As I mentioned, it was just a miscommunication,” Williams noted. “I was trying to flatten him off on the safety. Since the other safety was down, I thought we had enough space over there, so I attempted to flatten him off. It was just a miscommunication. His route was supposed to go deep and attack that angle, which he did. We believed we could go under the safety at that point. It didn’t turn out that way.”
As the Bears commenced their offseason on Monday, fellow wide receiver Rome Odunze confirmed he won’t require surgery for the foot injury that hindered him throughout his second season. Odunze played in only 12 games due to his injury, which he asserts will heal with rest.
“It was tough, man,” Odunze remarked about managing the injury. “It was tough. … We play through injuries; it’s part of the game. I’m not going to make excuses about the foot, but it’s something I dealt with.”
The 2024 No. 9 pick expressed frustration regarding how his second season unfolded after entering training camp as Williams’ primary target. Odunze concluded third on the Bears in receiving yards (661), fourth in receptions (44), and was tied for the team lead with six receiving touchdowns.
