DARNELL MOONEY NEWS

Darnell Mooney: 'I was to be precise' Chicago Bears wide receiver Darnell Mooney talks about his preparation for his second season.

AUGUST 10, 2021 • NFL.COM

Matt Nagy praises Darnell Mooney's route running, calls him a 'steal' in 2020 draft Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy has high praise for second-year receiver Darnell Mooney.

AUGUST 7, 2021 • 247SPORTS.COM

Continues to shine Mooney caught a pair of deep passes in Thursday's practice, as he looks to become a consistent downfield target for the Bears this season, Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com reports.

Impact Mooney was frequently able to get open downfield as a rookie in 2020, but the lack of quality quarterback play limited him to just six receptions of over 20 yards. However, if Andy Dalton and Justin Fields are able to show accuracy on deep passes this year, Mooney could potentially see a significant bump in production from last season.

AUGUST 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

National writer expects big things from Mooney NFL.com writer Gregg Rosenthal is predicting that the Bears player most likely to have a breakout 2021 season is second-year receiver Darnel...

JULY 30, 2021 • CHICAGOBEARS.COM

Dalton displays big-time launch codes on bomb to Mooney at camp Chicago Bears quarterback Andy Dalton launches a deep pass to wide receiver Darnell Mooney during training camp practice.

JULY 29, 2021 • NFL.COM

2021 fantasy football sleepers: Phillip Lindsay, DeVonta Smith, Darnell Mooney and more early expert picks The Athletic's fantasy football writers pick our top sleepers for the 2021 NFL season, including Trevor Lawrence, Darnell Mooney and more

JULY 14, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Top 25 most important Bears of 2021: No. 15 Darnell Mooney Sean Hammond: Leading up to Bears training camp in late July, we're counting down the top 25 most important Bears for the 2021 season.

JULY 13, 2021 • DAILYHERALD.COM

Shines during offseason Mooney looked "more polished and explosive" throughout OTAs and June minicamp, according to Adam Jahns of The Athletic.

Impact A fifth-round pick last spring, Mooney handled 98 targets and 73 percent snap share as a rookie, operating as Chicago's No. 2 receiver from Week 2 onward. He did miss the team's lone playoff game with an ankle injury, but there's been no indication it affected his offseason routine, and Mooney should retain the No. 2 spot after the Bears added only Marquise Goodwin and Damiere Byrd to their WR room in the offseason. A breakout would require QBs Andy Dalton and Justin Fields to play better than last year's duo of Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles, especially when it comes to downfield passing. Mooney ran a 4.38 40-yard dash at the 2020 Combine, and he ranked 14th in the league last season with 24 targets at 20-plus yards downfield (though he caught only four, T-61st). Mooney still figures to be the main deep threat in Chicago, even if Goodwin/Byrd poach a few of those targets.

JULY 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Comparing Chicago Bears WR Darnell Mooney to 2020 WR draft class The 2020 wide receiver draft class is going to go down as a special one. While there is plenty of top-end talent to get excited over, Darnel...

JUNE 30, 2021 • BEARGOGGLESON.COM

Darnell Mooney could make huge leap in second year with Chicago Bears Darnell Mooney broke out in his rookie year all things considered. From a fifth-round pick, Mooney got on the field immediately and was prod...

JUNE 20, 2021 • BEARGOGGLESON.COM

Darnell Mooney Ready to Become Serious Threat in Year 2 Chicago Bears second-year wide receiver Darnell Mooney is ready to set the league on fire Year 2.

JUNE 18, 2021 • 247SPORTS.COM

Chicago Bears WR Darnell Mooney is poised for breakout in 2021 After turning heads during his rookie season, Darnell Mooney could be primed to make a second-year jump for the Chicago Bears. The fifth-rou...

JUNE 17, 2021 • NFLMOCKS.COM

Setting expectations for Darnell Mooney with Chicago Bears in 2021 Earlier we looked at five players who had rookie seasons that looked similar to the rookie season that Darnell Mooney produced. It was a goo...

JUNE 16, 2021 • BEARGOGGLESON.COM

Bears WR Darnell Mooney primed for a breakout season in 2021 There’s no denying that Bears WR Darnell Mooney has a bright future ahead of him, and he’s among PFF’s breakout candidates in 2021.

JUNE 13, 2021 • USATODAY.COM

Bears News: Justin Fields Inspiring Darnell Mooney Already The Chicago Bears have never really had a franchise quarterback. For years, the team has tried and failed to find a solution to that problem...

JUNE 10, 2021 • FANDUEL.COM

Chicago Bears: 3 cornerbacks Darnell Mooney should circle in 2021 This has been a fun week for Chicago Bears fans. It’s not every day you get the chance to grab the attention of an All-Pro cornerback like J...

MAY 20, 2021 • BEARGOGGLESON.COM

Jalen Ramsey Still Salty About Getting Burned by Darnell Mooney Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey is known for being one of the most competitive players in the NFL. He has created rivalries with pl...

MAY 18, 2021 • FANDUEL.COM

Chicago Bears 2020 Rookie Review: WR Darnell Mooney How did rookie wide receiver Darnell Mooney fare in his first season in Chicago? We break it down as a bright future looms for the former Tu...

FEBRUARY 17, 2021 • 247SPORTS.COM

Could see role expand Mooney (ankle) appears locked in as a key part of the Bears offense, while the rest of the wideout group is in flux, ESPN.com's Jeff Dickerson reports.

Impact It'll be an interesting offseason in Chicago with WR Allen Robinson and QB Mitchell Trubisky both scheduled to become unrestricted free agents in March. That leaves Mooney, RB David Montgomery and TE Cole Kmet locked in as building blocks at the skill positions, whereas Anthony Miller, Jimmy Graham and Javon Wims are on shakier footing. Mooney finished his rookie year with 61 catches for 631 yards and four touchdowns on 98 targets, playing 73 percent of Chicago's offensive snaps. The workload was surprisingly large for a fifth-round pick, and his subpar efficiency stats -- 62.2 percent catch rate, 10.3 YPR, 6.4 YPT -- were bogged down by Trubisky and Foles' poor accuracy on deep throws. Mooney had his best game of the season Week 17, but he injured his ankle in the process and wasn't able to suit up for the playoff loss to New Orleans. He should have plenty of time to recover from his injury before the Bears' offseason program starts up in April/May. It remains to be seen whether Trubisky, Foles or someone else will take the first snap at OTAs.

JANUARY 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Drop, ejection and penalties sink Bears in playoff loss

A drop in the end zone by Chicago receiver Javon Wims was just one of many mistakes that cost the Bears a chance to stay with New Orleans in a playoff opening loss

JANUARY 11, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Saints' Kamara, Thomas active; Bears scratch Jaylon Johnson

Saints running back Alvin Kamara and receiver Michael Thomas are in uniform for Sunday’s playoff game against the Chicago Bears after returning to the active roster a day earlier

JANUARY 10, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ruled out for Sunday Mooney (ankle) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's game against the Saints, Adam Hoge of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Impact Mooney never managed to practice all week, but it's still a tough blow to a Bears offense that targeted the rookie fifth-round pick 13 times in last week's loss to the Packers. Anthony Miller and Javon Wims will be expected to shoulder some of the additional snaps in Mooney's absence.

JANUARY 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

The Latest: Heinicke starts for Washington vs. Brady, Bucs

Alex Smith is inactive with a calf injury

JANUARY 9, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Chicago Bears list Roquan Smith, Darnell Mooney and Jaylon Johnson as questionable for Sunday’s playoff game; New Orleans Saints rule out Trey Hendrickson The Chicago Bears listed inside linebacker Roquan Smith, wide receiver Darnell Mooney and cornerback Jaylon Johnson as questionable to play...

JANUARY 8, 2021 • CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM

Bears LB Smith, WR Mooney questionable for playoff vs Saints

The Chicago Bears might have to get by without some important players in their wild-card game against the New Orleans Saints

JANUARY 8, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS