We finally learned the reason for one of the more peculiar moments that took place in the NFL last Sunday.
Bears receiver DJ Moore oddly walked off the field in the middle of a play while quarterback Caleb Williams tried to find an open receiver during a 29-9 loss to the Cardinals.
Bears coach Matt Eberflus told reporters that Moore turned his ankle and there was nothing more to story, despite some speculating that he quit on the field in that specific instance.
“That’s what I saw, and that’s what it was,” Eberflus told reporters.
On the play in a question, a second-and-6 from the Cardinals’ 48-yard line in a scoreless game, Williams scrambled and opted not to pass to Moore while he tightroped the sideline.
When Williams passed on throwing to Moore, the receiver appeared to slowly walk off the field and go to the bench.
Moore was almost immediately back on the field, making a catch just 30 seconds later.
“Tweaked ankle,” Moore confirmed on Wednesday. “I was coming back to – cause I’d seen Caleb scrambling and my ankle went in and out. I couldn’t stop so my momentum took me out of bounds and then I just walked off.”
Some have speculated if Moore just gave up on the play, while others like J.J. Watt wondered if Moore knew he had stepped out of bounds and thus could no longer catch a pass.
Moore, a captain for Chicago, has had a dicey start forming chemistry with Williams after clicking with Justin Fields immediately last season after he was traded to the Bears.
Moore said it was easier to click with Fields because he was not a rookie quarterback, like Williams is.
“The noise? I hear it, seen it,” Moore said. “[I] really didn’t care; it is what it is… [people] can take it how they want to, they wish they did without even knowing what happened mid-play.
On Monday, Moore said in a radio interview that he “Wants(s) to say no” when asked whether Eberflus had lost the locker room after the Bears’ blowout loss.
“The message yesterday was that we know we’re 4-4 now,” Moore said. “It’s just like being 0-0. But you’ve just got to go out there and start stacking wins like we did. And that’s the best thing you can do is win and let the chips fall how they fall after they do so.”
Chicago’s schedule will be a nightmare after this week.
After welcoming the New England Patriots in Week 10, the Bears face all three NFC North rivals in the Lions, Packers and Vikings twice, in addition to games vs. the 49ers and Seahawks.