The trade for Keenan Allen appeared to be the latest miss for Chicago Bears' general manager Ryan Poles at the start of the 2024 season.
A heel injury threw a wrench in Allen's availability during the first four games of the Bears' season and when he was on the field, it seemed that injury was making him a shell of his former Pro-Bowl caliber self.
Fortunately for Poles, and the Bears, Allen seems to have found his stride. Allen has recorded at least five receptions in four of the Bears' last five games while scoring three touchdowns over the course of the Bears' last two games.
Allen's 2024 season totals after Week 18 will be a far cry from his last season with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023 but he is making a strong case for the Bears to consider bringing him back for the 2025 season.
While speaking with reporters on Thursday, Allen was not shy about what he wants next in his career following the 2024 season. Allen was emphatic in telling reporters that Chicago is the place he wants to be next season.
Playing with Caleb Williams this season seems to be the reason Allen was open to being traded to the Bears last offseason and Williams remains the reason Allen doesn't want to go anywhere. Allen has emerged as an important voice in the locker room but his value appears to have reached the coaching staff as well.
Chris Beatty is now the Bears' offensive coordinator under interim head coach Thomas Brown, but he was previously the team's wide receivers coach prior to Matt Eberflus's firing. In his new role, Beatty told reporters on Thursday that Allen has been serving as the de facto wide receivers coach on the field for the Bears this season.
It will come down to money as prior to the season, Allen was probably in line for the two-year, $52MM type contract Mike Evans signed last Spring with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It could be a steep ask for the Bears if they are basing it off of Allen's 2024 data alone.
However, if Williams wants Allen back, the Bears shouldn't object. Especially since Rome Odunze hasn't taken the rookie-season leap that the team may have been hoping for.
The Chicago Bears are desperately trying to get back into the win column after dropping their sixth consecutive game to the Detroit Lions on Thursday.
After their inexplicable loss to the Lions, the Bears parted ways with head coach Matt Eberflus and named new offensive coordinator Thomas Brown the interim head coach. Brown recently became the OC after Chicago moved on from Shane Waldron.
It’s been an unusual few weeks for the Bears, but Brown has a chance to turn things around this weekend against the San Francisco 49ers. However, it won’t be easy for Chicago as they could be without one of their key playmakers.
Bears News: D.J. Moore Misses Another Practice With Injury
According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, standout wide receiver D.J. Moore was among five players who did not practice on Thursday. Moore was also listed as a DNP on Wednesday with a quad injury.
Veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen was on Wednesday’s injury report with an ankle injury but was upgraded to a full participant on Thursday. Not having Moore for Sunday’s game against the 49ers would be a huge loss for the Bears’ offense.
In last week’s loss to the Lions, Moore made his presence felt as he had eight receptions (16 targets) for 97 yards and a touchdown. The veteran has seen an increased target share over the last three weeks, averaging 10 per game.
Allen and rookie Rome Odunze could see more snaps on Sunday if Moore cannot suit up against the 49ers.
The rookie receiver had a quiet game last week, posting two receptions (six targets) for 25 yards. Odunze hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week 3 against the Indianapolis Colts. We should also look for tight end Cole Kmet to get some targets in the passing game.
