Bears wide receiver Chase Claypool’s time in Chicago appears to be coming to an end.
Claypool was a healthy scratch for Sunday’s game against the Broncos, where coincidently the Bears offense had their best performance of the season. But it was suspicious that Claypool wasn’t at Soldier Field like the rest of his inactive and injured teammates.
After head coach Matt Eberflus mistakingly told reporters after the game that Claypool had decided to stay home, the Bears organization issued a correction to the media informing them the team asked Claypool to stay home.
If that isn’t a clear indication that Claypool’s time is done, I don’t know what is.
Eberflus addressed the Claypool drama in his Monday press conference, explaining how Claypool was informed he was inactive this week and why he won’t be active for Thursday’s game against the Commanders (or even be at Halas Hall this week).
“We did tell him not to be here for the weekend, including the game,” Eberflus told reporters Monday. “We told him he’d be inactive on Saturday. This morning, we informed him he will not be here this week. … We feel it’s best for the team at this time.”
Eberflus was asked if the plan was to trade or release Claypool, and he couldn’t answer the question.
“Right now we’re just not having him be in the building this week,” Eberflus said. “Ryan does all the trades and transactions…”
Outside of official confirmation, Claypool is out in Chicago. The only question is whether Bears general manager Ryan Poles can get a low draft pick for him (after trading No. 32 for him) rather than releasing him.