LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore clarified that his early exit from a recent play was due to injury, not frustration. He explained on Wednesday that he stepped off the field after rolling his ankle while trying to assist quarterback Caleb Williams during the first quarter of their 29-9 defeat against Arizona.

Moore recounted the incident, saying that he noticed Williams scrambling and tried to redirect towards him when his ankle gave out. “My ankle went in and out,” he mentioned. “I was already out of control, so my momentum carried me out of bounds, and then I just walked off. I heard the noise and saw what happened, but I didn’t let it affect me. It’s part of the game.”

At the time of the injury, the Bears were positioned at midfield; Williams attempted to evade a defender while throwing an incomplete pass to teammate Keenan Allen. Meanwhile, Moore hobbled off the field to the sidelines and took a seat, but he did re-enter the game despite feeling discomfort throughout the remaining plays. He ended up with four receptions for a total of 33 yards.

“The initial twist of the ankle was really painful, which is why I sort of limped off and took a breather,” Moore explained. “I returned and was just trying to do my best to get back into the flow of things. I didn’t not try to play. I was still in the game. That’s just how it went.”

This incident added to an already turbulent time for the Bears, who are now facing the New England Patriots this Sunday, seeking to regain their footing after two disappointing performances. Following a surprising loss to the Commanders due to a last-minute Hail Mary, the game against Arizona further compounded their struggles. Previously, the Bears had secured three consecutive victories.

Recent weeks have seen players, including Moore, openly voicing concern over coaching strategies, and his mid-play departure certainly didn’t help quell the growing narrative of discord within the team. “People can interpret it however they wish,” he stated. “They jumped to conclusions without understanding the situation, but that’s on them.”

A larger concern is the apparent lack of synergy between Moore and Williams, a partnership that fans and analysts anticipated would shine. Moore has accumulated 374 receiving yards and three touchdowns this season, a drop from his impressive performances last year when he reached 1,364 yards and eight scores. His highest yardage this season was 100 against Carolina, but since then, he has managed only 80 yards over the following three games.