Published By: Sports Desk
Last Updated: March 17, 2024, 00:01 IST
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Keenan Allen is wanting ahead to giving the Chicago Bears a dynamic tandem at extensive receiver with DJ Moore and dealing with whoever the quarterback is subsequent season, whether or not they stick to Justin Fields or draft Southern California’s Caleb Williams with the No. 1 general decide.
LAKE FOREST, Ill.: Keenan Allen is wanting ahead to giving the Chicago Bears a dynamic tandem at extensive receiver with DJ Moore and dealing with whoever the quarterback is subsequent season, whether or not they stick to Justin Fields or draft Southern California’s Caleb Williams with the No. 1 general decide.
Who shall be behind heart stays the massive query.
“I’m a friendly guy on and off the field,” Allen mentioned Saturday, two days after the Bears acquired the six-time Pro Bowler from the Los Angeles Chargers for a fourth-spherical decide. “Obviously on the football field, I know the game. I know the ins and outs, I know the zones, I know how to beat man, I know pretty much how to play the game. I just think I’m friendly for the quarterback because I’ll be in the right spots. I know how to communicate with him and my body language is solid, too.”
The 31-yr-previous Allen joins a staff that appears critical about profitable once more. The Bears went 7-10 of their third straight dropping season.
But there’s a giant buzz surrounding the staff, significantly with the No. 1 decide and the potential to draft the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner.
“Hell of an athlete,” Allen mentioned of Williams. “Obviously, he can make tremendous plays with his feet, with his arm. Looks like he knows the game really well. Really good.”
The Bears have the highest decide as a result of they acquired Carolina’s first-rounder within the commerce for Moore a yr in the past — and the Panthers completed with a league-worst 2-15 report. Allen mentioned he met Williams as soon as and got here away impressed, describing him as a “down-to-earth, chill guy.”
Allen has performed his complete 11-yr profession with the Chargers and ranks second in franchise historical past in receptions (904) and yards receiving (10,530). Since getting into the league in 2013, he’s third in receptions, sixth in yards and tied for tenth in receiving touchdowns (59).
Allen was main the NFL in receptions by means of Week 14 final season, however he missed the ultimate 4 video games due to an ankle harm. He completed sixth with 108 catches and eleventh in yards with 1,243.
Allen is getting into the ultimate season of a 4-yr contract extension he signed in 2020. He mentioned he hopes to stay in Chicago in the long run, however he and the Bears are “just kind of taking it one day at a time. Got one year left and we’ll see what happens.”
Allen mentioned on the finish of final season that he hoped to spend his complete profession with the Chargers. But once they requested him to take a pay minimize or restructure his contract, he made his emotions clear.
“I’m not doing it,” mentioned Allen, who already had restructured his contract final season, with most of his base wage transformed to a roster bonus to offer the Chargers extra flexibility. “I just came off my best season, so it’s not happening.”
The Chargers have been $21 million over the cap at the beginning of free company. Besides buying and selling Allen, they launched extensive receiver Mike Williams, whereas linebackers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack agreed to restructure their contracts.
Allen mentioned the New York Jets and Houston Texans additionally have been curious about buying him.
Chicago hasn’t completed with a profitable report for the reason that 2018 NFC North championship season. But Allen likes the potential of its offense, no matter who the quarterback is.
The Bears have a brand new coordinator in Shane Waldron and added operating again D’Andre Swift and former Chargers tight finish Gerald Everett in free company. They now boast what figures to be a dynamic duo at extensive receiver.
“We can be really special,” Allen mentioned. “We got weapons. You got guys who can beat man all over the field. So double teaming one guy is going to be costly for the defense. I think we can use that as our advantage. Having a running back that can come out of the backfield and make plays and beat one-on-ones, that’s kind of big.”
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
