Chicago Bears wide receiver D.J. Moore is embracing the challenge of lining up in the backfield.
“I was just like, go ahead, add it all onto the plate now,” Moore said of his reaction when the coaching staff first approached him about taking snaps out of the backfield. “I mean, just be an athlete at this point, and I’ve got to learn it all, and that’s what I’m doing.”
He said he did not remember when the coaches explained their plans to him because he was so focused on learning his assignments at the various receiver spots during the offseason program. When the coaches did approach him about it, he took it as yet another thing to learn. But he was optimistic that he was learning.
“It’s going well,” he said.
The eight-year veteran said he breaks down his process between wide receiver responsibilities, running back responsibilities, and learning each play as a concept.
“It’s daunting,” he said of the sheer amount of information to take in, “But I mean, I get paid the big bucks to do it, so why not?”
Moore said he has not gone to a running back position meeting yet. He has only had one discussion about the position, a meeting with running backs coach Eric Bieniemy, where the two discussed it.
A reporter asked him whether there was a specific aspect of being a receiver out of the backfield. Moore said no.
“I mean, it [doesn’t] matter,” he said. “As long as I can make a positive play out of it, I’m cool with it.”
Nor is there a specific blueprint for how he plays out of the backfield.
“I just go out there and do the assignment and go off instincts when I get the ball in my hand,” he said, adding that he does feel comfortable taking handoffs as a runner.
The idea of a wide receiver lining up in the backfield has historically been considered a gimmick among offenses, but has gradually become a legitimate arrow in the quiver for modern offenses. The prime example of this phenomenon is former San Francisco 49ers and current Washington Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel. Though he is listed as a wide receiver, Samuel was used consistently as both a receiver and runner out of the backfield. In the past four seasons, Samuel had 59, 42, 37, and 42 carries, respectively.
A full-time conversion to running back is not unheard of. Green Bay Packers wide receiver Ty Montgomery converted to running back in 2016 after injuries decimated the position. He became a full-time running back for the rest of his career. Similarly, return specialist Cordarelle Patterson was drafted as a receiver, but struggled at the position early in his career. He began to play running back with the New England Patriots under coach Ivan Fears—who coached Montgomery in Green Bay. He eventually converted to playing running back full-time for the Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers.
“D.J. is one of those guys that you really love when the ball’s in his hands,” he said, adding that Moore feels natural playing there, and praising his field vision. “And so [we’re] just trying to find ways to be creative about how we do that, trying to get him touches in every way we can.”
