The Chicago Bears suffered a heavy defeat to the Baltimore Ravens last Sunday and are now hoping for the return of their injured players to give them a better chance of victory against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Fans’ high hopes are pinned on the possible return of wide receiver DJ Moore, who suffered groin and hip injuries, but the latest updates have left the Bears with low expectations regarding his presence in the Week 9 away game.
Will DJ Moore Return in Week 9?
According to Chicago Tribune Bears reporter Brad Biggs, Moore was absent from training on Wednesday and remains officially on the injured list. He began experiencing groin pain during Monday Night Football against the Washington Commanders. According to the latest injury reports, the WR also has hip and groin injuries.
In seven games this season, Moore has 331 receiving yards (an average of 47.3 yards per game) and 26 receptions. The tactical importance of the WR goes beyond the raw numbers. It is directly linked to the evolution of head coach Ben Johnson’s offensive scheme, especially in the development of the passing game.
#Bears top 4 receivers did not practice today
Rome Odunze – heel
DJ Moore – hip/groin
Luther Burden – concussion
Olamide Zaccheaus – kneeGiven the team had a large tryout Tuesday and didn’t have any WRs, I’d hold back on a social media panic attack …
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) October 29, 2025
Moore has the speed and ability to run deep routes, forcing opposing safeties to back off and opening space in the middle of the field for younger wide receivers and tight end Cole Kmet. One of his most outstanding qualities is his ability to turn short and intermediate passes into significant gains with his strength and agility after the catch on screen and slant plays.
Even with the arrival of promising rookies, Moore is still the Bears’ most proven and reliable receiver (they currently rank 11th in the PFSN Offense Impact metric with a 74.7 score), forcing opposing defenses to adjust their primary coverage to match up with him and relieving pressure on the other receivers.
Moore’s importance also extends to helping a developing quarterback like Caleb Williams. Even when coverage is tight, Moore has a long arm and the strength to find solutions, which increases the QB’s confidence in making risky throws in tight windows.
Although most of the attention is focused on Moore’s return, several other players are listed as nonparticipants on the team’s first injury report of the week: Rome Odunze (heel), D’Andre Swift (groin), Luther Burden (concussion), and Olamide Zaccheaus (knee).
Currently in third place in the NFC North, the Bears (4-3) desperately need a win in Week 9 to prevent the Lions (5-2) and Packers (5-1-1) from pulling away in the race for the division title.