Bears WR Chase Claypool on 2023: 'It's the biggest year of my life'

Chicago Bears receiver Chase Claypool knows the score heading into the 2023 season.

Following a trade from Pittsburgh last season, the former second-round pick enters the final year of his rookie contract needing a big season to set himself up for a payday.

"It's the biggest year of my life, and I understand that," Claypool said Wednesday, via Courtney Cronin of ESPN. "If anybody thinks my work ethic isn't matching that, they're deeply mistaken."

Claypool started his career with back-to-back 860-plus-yard seasons in Pittsburgh, looking like the Steelers' next big-play weapon. But things got off to a wobbly start last year, with the Steelers shipping him to Chicago ahead of the trade deadline for a second-round pick (became No. 32 overall).

Things went from bad to worse with the Bears.

Claypool caught just 14 passes for 140 yards in seven games in Chicago with no scores. He also missed two games due to a knee injury.

He missed most of the workouts this offseason due to injury and was briefly placed on the physically unable to perform list to open training camp before being removed a day later. Claypool insisted the knee injury wasn't the reason he was on the PUP list.

The 25-year-old has heard the chatter surrounding his durability and fit in the offense.

"I guess I get it," Claypool said. "Maybe people weren't happy with how I dealt with the offseason, but that's only the perception that was given to them and not the reality that's true. I remember almost blowing my knee out against the Packers and being done for the game and kind of pleading to be put back in, putting the knee brace back on, and went back in and tried to help my team win.

"So, if there's any questions on how much I'm willing to do to help this team win, there