Bears Grades: Receivers struggle in Alshon Jeffery's absence

Share

With the offense missing Alshon Jeffery (inactive, hamstring), Martellus Bennett caught two first-half passes, and four for the game. But the one first-half “target” of him that missed appeared to be when he stopped on an underneath crossing route, then started again and Jay Cutler threw to where Bennett had been. The resulting interception was returned for a touchdown, although exact responsibility was difficult to assign.

“I don’t know what Cutty [Cutler] saw or what happened,” Bennett said. “I just knew the ball was behind me. There’s options for me to do a lot of stuff on a lot of routes. Anytime there’s an interception, there’s a miscommunication.”

Josh Bellamy gathered in his first career reception and made it a big one: 48 yards for a touchdown on a beautifully designed play that exploited a tendency in the Arizona defense. The only worry was that Bellamy was so wide open it might be its own distraction.

[NBC SHOP: Gear up, Bears fans!]

“That’s one of those ones where you have to focus a little more, because it can be so easy and so difficult at the same time,” Bellamy said. “You can’t lose focus.”

Eddie Royal caught seven of the eight passes thrown to him but for just 41 yards, no catch for longer than 15 yards. Marquess Wilson remains something of a disappointment, faced with a breakout opportunity with injuries to the receiver group, but with only two catches last week (on two targets) and only one of five vs. the Cardinals, for 10 yards.

Rookie undrafted free agent Cameron Meredith may have vaulted up the depth chart with three catches, all in the second half, and four “targets,” indicative of Jimmy Clausen having a measure of confidence in him. That becomes significant with Clausen expected to be the starter at Seattle, and coaches typically wanting to equip quarterbacks with plays and personnel that create maximum comfort levels.

“Just got to get more comfortable with those guys and communicating well,” Clausen said. “We’ll be all right.”

Moon's Grade: C

Contact Us