In October 2023, the Miami Dolphins sent the Chicago Bears a sixth-round pick in exchange for wide receiver Chase Claypool. It didn’t exactly work out as Claypool caught four passes for 26 yards and no touchdowns. Despite signing with the Buffalo Bills last offseason, Claypool hasn’t played in the NFL since 2023.
Claypool suffered a season-ending toe injury last August and is now a free agent. However, he explains in a recent Instagram post where he’s been for the last year or so.
“My first season-ending injury in 18 years came at the worst possible time,” he wrote. “I felt like God was playing a joke on me…
“It’s been a year since I’ve posted on Instagram, and almost nobody knows what actually happened to me.
“Signing with Buffalo was the best thing that could’ve ever happened to me. I was the strongest, fastest, and most prepared I had ever been. I was playing my best football — working my way up from LAST (14th) string to taking first-team reps by camp. Most of all, I was doing it with a group of guys I truly appreciated.”
Claypool is full of thanks
The Bills reached an injury settlement with Claypool which allowed him to become a free agent. He says it has been an arduous process, but that he’s back to feeling great again.
“I want to thank Josh for taking me in the way he did, AJ and Greg for showing me the kindness they did, the entire receiver room who made me feel like family, the O-line for having my back always, and my receiver coach, who never failed to check on me throughout this entire last year — sending me motivational videos and helping me get past what I was going through,” he said. “As well as a thank you to Coach McDermott and Beane for affording me the opportunity. It was a pleasure.”
Claypool detailed the injury on his 4th of July Instagram post and said he’s hoping to latch on with a team
“I tore a ligament and a tendon in my second toe and have been rehabbing, working out, and recovering every day for the past year,” he continued. “I am back to being the strongest and fastest I’ve ever been and couldn’t be more excited to step back out on the field and let my actions speak for themselves. I deeply and truly believe that the pieces will align, and I will work my way into the position to show off what’s been suppressed these last two years.
“Happy Fourth and God bless — I got love for you all.”
Claypool showed a lot of promise early in his career
Claypool was drafted in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame. He was the Steelers first pick of the draft because they sent their first rounder that year to the Dolphins for Minkah Fitzpatrick (you may have heard of him).
He got off to a good start his rookie year, hauling in 62 passes for 873 yards and nine touchdowns. But, his production declined in the next three seasons and he was sent to the Bears for a second-round pick (whoops!).
Could there be a reunion with the Dolphins be in the cards? Anything is possible at this point. While Claypool would probably latch on to just about any team, the Dolphins could use some offensive help and he wouldn’t cost much at all.
