For the better part of a decade, the Chicago Bears offense has been missing one key element; a speedy wide receiver who can take the top off a defense.
Sure, they’ve been fortunate to have big playmakers like receivers Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery and Allen Robinson, all who have put together Pro-Bowl caliber seasons during their respective time in Chicago. But the team has been missing the speedster-type player ever since receiver Johnny Knox suffered a gruesome back injury that ended his career in 2011. Could they have found the next Knox in rookie receiver Darnell Mooney?
Like Knox, Mooney was selected in the fifth-round of the NFL Draft. Both hail from smaller schools, with Mooney coming from Tulane and Knox from Abilene-Christian, and both were known for their devastating speed. Mooney ran the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine in 4.38 seconds. Knox ran just slightly faster when he participated in the Combine over 10 years ago, clocked at 4.34 seconds. Both showed their skill in college as Mooney averaged 20.7 yards per catch during his junior year in 2018 and Knox averaged 19 yards per catch in 2008.
Most rookie receivers take time to develop, but Knox was the exception when he burst on the scene in 2009. During his rookie year, he caught 45 passes for 527 yards and five touchdowns. He was selected to the Pro Bowl as a return specialist. He then went on to become the team’s most dependable wide receiver over the next two seasons, enhancing his skillset to develop into a well-rounded receiver before his career abruptly ended. Now, nearly 10 years later, Mooney could pick up where Knox left off.
Mooney has yet to play in any sort of NFL game, but he has drawn rave reviews in practice.
“Darnell’s done a really good job at soaking up his role, and I think with him, he’s a kid that you don’t see any change any day” Bears head coach Matt Nagy told Larry Mayer of ChicagoBears.com. “He practices the same way that he plays, whether it’s a rapid practice with coach [Mike] Furrey or whether it’s a full rep in a team period 7 on 7.”
QB Mitchell Trubisky echoed his coaches comments as well earlier in camp.
“He’s quick, he gets out of his cuts really well and he’s picking up the offense really quickly,” Trubisky said. “As a quarterback, you love to see a rookie picking up the offense as quick as he is. We’re putting him in different spots, seeing how much he can handle and he’s doing a great job just separating and running the routes and being on the quarterback’s timing. And he can fly a little bit as well.”
While the former Tulane standout may not see the instant success Knox had, the Bears are working to integrate him into the offense and give him a role, according to The Athletic’s Adam Jahns. He lists Mooney as one of his top-five players from camp and had this to say about the rookie:
The Bears are definitely in the process of sketching out a role for Mooney this season. He’s playing with the starters and against the Bears’ best defenders. His speed and quick-twitch elusiveness definitely stand out. ‘A lot of people are bailing back on me a lot and respecting my speed,’ Mooney said. He’s also different than the rest of the Bears’ offensive threats. He’s Taylor Gabriel but with better moves after he has the ball.
Mooney will still have to earn playing time, but it’s clear the Bears aren’t just giving lip service. Knox became a special player and one of the biggest “what ifs” in recent Bears history. Time will tell whether or not Mooney reaches the same heights Knox did, but he has all the makings to do so.
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