Relaxation during a player’s offseason comes in many different forms.
For Chicago Bears wide receiver Chase Claypool, that came in the form of flying to Paris and attending the Feng Chen Wang Fashion Week – modeling a curious cutout shirt with holes throughout the fabric.
Modeling may serve to be a well-needed distraction for the fourth-year wide receiver, who is entering his first full season with the Bears.
After being traded from the Pittsburgh Steelers, Claypool played seven games, starting three of them – yet only managed a measly 140 yards and no touchdowns during that stretch, which may stem from injuries sustained during the year and the lack of chemistry between him and Bears quarterback Justin Fields.
Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy spoke about the improved comfort level within the organization as a whole for Claypool coming into the offseason training programs.
“I think comfortability within the building, whether that’s being around the head coach, being around us on the offensive staff, his teammates,” offensive coordinator Luke Getsy said when asked where he sees a difference in Claypool.
“And then, most importantly, Justin. I think that relationship is always the most important — the quarterback/receiver relationship. I think all that’s improving. As far as his knowledge of what’s going on around him, that’s improving. Because we demand a lot of that position, as we’ve talked about here plenty of times. That’s a big part of what we do with that role. It’s been good to see him be able to take a step there.”
Although the self proclaimed “top-three receiver” has fallen short of that claim by a mile, he doesn’t need to be that for the Bears, who have upgraded their receiving core by trading for wideout D.J Moore, a receiver who has multiple 1,000+ receiving yard seasons, as well as acquiring tight end Robert Tonyan in free agency.
But if nothing else, the Bears know that Claypool is the most fashion-savvy player in their locker room, and maybe that counts for something – in Paris.
