Getty DJ Moore of the Chicago Bears.
When quarterback Justin Fields and the Chicago Bears kick off their 2023 season against longtime NFC North rivals the Green Bay Packers, new Bears wide receiver DJ Moore expects Fields to be laser-focused and dialed in.
During a September 6 media session, Fields didn’t show much emotion. Afterward, Moore was asked about his quarterback’s stoic demeanor. When one reporter wondered whether Fields’ serious mood meant he was simply extra-focused, Moore’s answer was blunt.
“I don’t know. He better be locked in. He’s the quarterback,” Moore said. “At the end of the day, I think he’s locked in. I know he’s locked in.”
#Bears WR DJ Moore on Justin Fields locked in demeanor ahead of Week 1: “He better be locked in. He’s the quarterback. At the end of the day, I think he’s locked in. I know he’s locked in.”
So, Is Fields Locked In?
We’ll know soon enough whether Fields is ready to elevate his game. In the four games he has played against Green Bay, Fields has thrown for 722 yards, three touchdowns and six interceptions (70.7 passer rating). His most recent game against them, however, was Fields’ best.
When Chicago hosted Green Bay in Week 13 of the 2022 season, Fields went 20-of-25 for a season-high 254 yards along with 71 rushing yards and a score on the ground. He tossed two picks, but both came in the game’s final five minutes.
Waking up and thinking about the time Justin Fields dusted the entire Packers defense. t.co/ADteedZa0G
The Bears have been struggling against the Packers for years — long before Fields arrived. Green Bay has won 24 of its last 29 games against Chicago, with the Bears last winning a game in the series in December 2018. The Bears are also 8-11 against the Packers in season openers.
For his part, Fields, who is still seeking his first win against the Pack, is not focused on all that.
“It’s the most important game of the season, so I’m not really looking back towards history,” Fields said about the Week 1 game against Green Bay. “I’m looking toward now. Like I said before, we’ve got a different team this year. We don’t really care what happened in the past. That doesn’t affect what’s gonna happen on Sunday. We’re just looking to go out there, play our best and put our best foot forward.”
DJ Moore Taking Leadership Role With Bears
The addition of Moore, a true WR1, should help against Green Bay. In his first season with the team, Moore has already established himself as one of the team’s leaders, getting named one of four team captains, along with Fields, safety Eddie Jackson and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds. It’s something Moore values a great deal.
“I was ecstatic — I never was a captain [in the NFL],” Moore said. “To be named a captain, shoot, I was jumping up and down in my seat low-key. Glad nobody noticed.”
Last year, Moore had 63 catches for 888 yards and seven touchdowns (52.2 yards per game) with the Carolina Panthers. He came to Chicago, of course, as part of the blockbuster trade package negotiated by Bears general manager Ryan Poles in exchange for the No. 1 overall pick.
Moore has never been a part of the Bears-Packers rivalry — until now.
“It’s going to carry weight because it’s a division opponent,” he said about playing against the Cheeseheads. “Winning this game, we’re just going to sit on a high horse throughout the season knowing that you accomplished one goal; now you’ve just got to take it on to the next.”
Sounds like the new Bears wide receiver cannot wait to make his mark.