Courtney Cronin, ESPN Staff Writer Oct. 2, 2023, 10:25 a.m. ET
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- Courtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017 and originally covered the Minnesota Vikings before moving to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a frequent panelist on Around the Horn and host of Best Week Ever on ESPN Radio. She also co-hosts the Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She previously worked as a multimedia sportswriter at the San Jose Mercury News.
CHICAGO – Bears wide receiver Chase Claypool will not be with the team before the Week 5 game in Washington, coach Matt Eberflus said during his weekly appearance on “Kap & J.Hood” on ESPN 1000.
“He won’t be in the building this short week,” Eberflus said when asked if Claypool would be active for the Bears’ game Thursday night against the Commanders.
Claypool was a good replacement in Chicago’s 31-28 loss to the Denver Broncos. According to a team spokesman, the wide receiver was not at Soldier Field on Sunday and was ordered not to participate in the game.
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After the loss, Eberflus told reporters that it was Claypool’s decision whether he attended the game as an inactive player or stayed home. The coach said he wanted to “set the record straight” on Monday and offered an explanation for why his information differed from the team’s.
“When I stood on the podium yesterday, I obviously didn’t realize what was happening after an emotional game,” said Eberflus. “We have asked Chase to stay home during this time. We felt it was in the best interest of the team. We always base our inactivity on the basis of meetings, on the basis of exercises and on the basis of visits throughout the week. And.” We made it inactive at this point.
Eberflus also said Sunday that he expects Claypool to be back with the team at Halas Hall on Monday.
Claypool expressed frustration Friday with his role in the Bears’ offense. When asked if he felt he was in the best position to showcase his skills, the wide receiver paused for seven seconds before saying “no.”
As a result of his comments, Eberflus was asked whether he thought Claypool would fit into the Bears’ culture. While he didn’t answer that question directly, the Bears coach said the team will keep an eye on the wide receiver situation going forward.
“[General manager] Ryan [Poles] does all the transactions and does all the things of that nature and we’ll see how it goes,” Eberflus said.
The Bears sent the No. 32 overall pick to Pittsburgh last November in exchange for Claypool, who is in the final year of his rookie contract. In the 10 games he played in Chicago, Claypool struggled to establish a major role as he caught 18 passes for 191 yards and a touchdown.