Courtney CroninJan 19, 2026, 04:22 PM ETCloseCourtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, originally covering the Minnesota Vikings before switching to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a frequent panelist on Around the Horn and host of Best Week Ever and GameNight on ESPN Radio. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She previously worked at the San Jose Mercury News as a multimedia sports journalist.Follow on X
Stephen A.: Bears will win the Super Bowl in the next 3 years (0:53)Stephen A. Smith is proud of how the Bears fought against the Rams and expects big things in the future. (0:53)
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Caleb Williams stressed the importance of being on the same page with his wide receivers after DJ Moore faced criticism for his route-running effort on the play that resulted in a game-changing interception during the Chicago Bears’ 20-17 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
The Bears faced second-and-8 from the Rams’ 48-yard line on their lone possession in overtime after Los Angeles went three-and-out to start the extra period. With time to throw from a clean pocket, Williams took a shot downfield on a pass that would have put the Bears into field goal range. But instead of connecting with Moore, Williams’ throw was intercepted when Rams safety Kam Curl cut in front of the wide receiver.
Los Angeles won the game and advanced to the NFC Championship Game after kicking a 42-yard field goal on its ensuing possession.
Against the Rams, Moore had a team-high five catches for 52 yards and a touchdown. The 28-year-old receiver was criticized for appearing to jog on his route and drift upfield instead of sharply running across the field after starting off the play out wide on the opposite side from where Williams targeted him.
“Like I said, it was just a miscommunication,” Williams said. “Trying to just flatten him off on the safety. Since the other safety was down, I felt like we had enough space over there so I tried to flatten him off. It was just a miscommunication. His route is to go deep and attack that angle, which he did. We thought we were going to go under the safety at that point. It didn’t happen that way.”
As the Bears began their offseason Monday, fellow wide receiver Rome Odunze confirmed he will not need surgery to repair the foot injury that limited him throughout his second season. Odunze was limited to 12 games because of injury, which he says will heal with rest.
The 2024 No. 9 pick expressed frustration over how his second season played out after exiting training camp as Williams’ top target. Odunze finished third on the Bears in receiving yards (661) and fourth in receptions (44) and was tied for the team lead with six receiving touchdowns.
Stephen A.: Bears will win the Super Bowl in the next 3 years (0:53)Stephen A. Smith is proud of how the Bears fought against the Rams and expects big things in the future. (0:53)
Stephen A. Smith is proud of how the Bears fought against the Rams and expects big things in the future. (0:53)
CloseCourtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, originally covering the Minnesota Vikings before switching to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a frequent panelist on Around the Horn and host of Best Week Ever and GameNight on ESPN Radio. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She previously worked at the San Jose Mercury News as a multimedia sports journalist.Follow on X
Moore was not present in the locker room postgame nor during Monday’s locker cleanout.