Chicago Bears Training Camp: DJ Moore Gets Creative in the Backfield

The Chicago Bears are looking for ways to maximize the impact of veteran receiver DJ Moore, and training camp has provided an intriguing twist. The team has been giving Moore snaps out of the backfield to get the ball in his hands in open space.

Moore has had at least one session with running backs coach Eric Bieniemy, reviewing route concepts from the backfield. The veteran admits that learning new splits is more challenging than it looks. “It’s daunting,” Moore told the Chicago Sun-Times, “but I get paid the big bucks to do it, so why not?”

Under new head coach Ben Johnson and offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, the Bears are experimenting with using Moore out of the backfield in limited reps to create mismatches against defenses expecting him outside. Doyle said, “DJ is one of those guys that you really love when the ball is in his hands. Just trying to find ways to be creative about how we do that. Trying to get him touches in every way we can. He’s very natural back there. He has good vision. It’s one of those things that we’ll test it and mess with it a little and see where it goes.”

Moore is not changing positions permanently. Most of his backfield snaps will likely be passing routes, though he is open to taking handoffs as well. “Just be an athlete at this point,” Moore said. “Just do it all and just attack it.”

This move also highlights uncertainties in the Bears’ running back group entering 2025. Improved blocking should help D’Andre Swift rebound from last year’s underwhelming season, but the group lacks explosiveness in the passing game. Moore’s involvement out of the backfield gives the Bears a potential weapon to create mismatches and generate big plays.