Keenan Allen is having a look ahead to giving the Chicago Bears a dynamic tandem at extensive receiver with DJ Moore and dealing with whoever the quarterback is later season, whether or not they stick to Justin Fields or draft USC‘s Caleb Williams with the Negative. 1 total select.
Who will probably be in the back of heart left-overs the heavy query.
“I’m a friendly guy on and off the field,” Allen mentioned Saturday, two days later the Bears acquired the six-time Professional Bowler from the Los Angeles Chargers for a fourth-round select. “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 [coverage], 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.”
Allen, 31, joins a group that turns out interested by successful once more. The Bears went 7-10 of their 3rd instantly shedding season.
However there’s a heavy buzz atmosphere the group, specifically with the Negative. 1 select and the possible 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 manage select as a result of they obtained Carolina‘s first-rounder within the business for Moore a 12 months in the past — and the Panthers completed with a league-worst 2-15 document. Allen mentioned he met Williams as soon as and got here away inspired, describing him as a “down-to-earth, chill guy.”
Allen has performed his whole 11-year profession with the Chargers and ranks 2nd in franchise historical past in receptions (904) and yards receiving (10,530). Since getting into the league in 2013, he’s 3rd in receptions, 6th in yards and secured for tenth in receiving touchdowns (59).
Allen used to be prominent the NFL in receptions thru Time 14 extreme season, however he overlooked the general 4 video games as a result of an ankle shock. He completed 6th with 108 catches and eleventh in yards with 1,243.
Allen is getting into the general season of a four-year assurance extension he signed in 2020. He mentioned he hopes to stay in Chicago in the longer term, 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 extreme season that he was hoping to spend his whole profession with the Chargers. But if they requested him to whisk a pay decrease or restructure his assurance, he made his emotions sunlit.
“I’m not doing it,” he mentioned. “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 isolated company. But even so buying and selling Allen, they exempted extensive receiver Mike Williams, moment linebackers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack correct to restructure their oaths.
Chicago hasn’t completed with a successful document for the reason that 2018 NFC North championship season. However Allen likes the opportunity of its offense, irrespective of who the quarterback is.
The Bears have a pristine coordinator in Shane Waldron and added working again D’Andre Swift and tight finish Gerald Everett in isolated 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 [coverage] 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.”
Reporting by way of The Related Press.
[Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]
Get extra from Nationwide Soccer League Practice your favorites to get details about video games, information and extra
