The Chicago Bears have traded a seventh round pick to the Los Angeles Chargers to acquire wide receiver Dontrelle Inman. The Bears have already lost their top two receivers to season-ending injury and have had to throw practice squad players out on the field. As a result, Chicago's receiver core has been among the least productive units in the NFL this year.
Inman (28) gives rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubisky someone reliable to throw to downfield, which can help the offensive playcalling be a bit more versatile.
Inman's change of scenery
The 6' 3", 205 pound veteran receiver had a very solid season last year with Philip Rivers and the Chargers.
In 16 games last year, he recorded 58 catches for 810 yards and caught four touchdown passes. This year, he hasn't received much action as he has only been targeted four times in four games this season. Inman got to play in those 16 games in 2016, mainly because number one receiver Keenan Allen missed most of the year. Regardless he proved to be a solid player when he got to play.
Inman comes to a young Chicago Bears team that has won two games in a row and is 3-4. He will go from catching a longtime veteran in Rivers to a 23-year old rookie in Trubisky, which gives him a whole new challenge. Inman will go from being number three on the depth chart to being the most reliable receiver on the roster, which is similar to the role he had last year.
If Trubisky can throw downfield more, and not rely heavily on running backs carrying the offense, then it will be good for his development in the NFL and the team's overall production. This move has the potential to be very rewarding, with little risk, as the Bears only gave up a seventh round pick.
#Bears, who saw 7 targets to WRs last week, traded for #Chargers WR Dontrelle Inman for a 7th, source confirms (@AdamSchefter on it first)
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 25, 2017
Next game up
The Bears will head to New Orleans to take on the Saints this Sunday.
This is a game that the offense has to put up a lot of points in to counter a Saints team that has one of the highest-powered offensive units in the NFL. Now that the Bears have a proven NFL receiver, expect the game plan to be mixed up a bit more. If Trubisky can get some protection on the pass and use more parts of the field, the Bears have a chance to put some points on the board against the Saints defense.
The Superdome has not been kind lately to the Bears, seeing as they have not won a game in that building since 1991. However both teams are playing well right now and seeing the Saints offense against the Bears defense will be an intriguing matchup.
