Chicago Bears Confirm Wide Receiver's Season Is Over

The Chicago Bears' season appears to be on its last legs. According to head coach Matt Eberflus, wide receiver Darnell Mooney will miss the remainder of the year with the ankle injury he suffered in the team's 31-10 loss to the New York Jets.

Bears’ HC Matt Eberflus told reporters that WR Darnell Mooney is out for the season due to the ankle injury he sustained Sunday.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 28, 2022

Mooney went down after 18 snaps in Sunday's matchup without a target of reception. He'll return to the Bears in the 2023 season on the final year of his rookie contract.

Mooney has been one of the few bright spots on what has often been an abysmal passing attack for the Bears this year. He leads the team with his 493 receiving yards this year, and his 1055 yards in 2021 also led the Bears last year. Despite his quality, the Bears rank last in the league this season in net passing yards and 28th in net passing yards per attempt. His loss will likely be the final nail in the coffin of another lost Bears season.

Mooney initially joined the Bears as their 173rd overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft after four years at Tulane. He quickly outperformed his draft position, nabbing 61 receptions for 631 yards as a rookie. If he can come back healthy for the 2023 season, he'll have a chance to earn himself an extension with the Bears in the range of Christian Kirk or Diontae Johnson's $18+ million per year.