The Chicago Bears are preparing for a crucial Week 9 matchup as they look to bounce back from their recent loss. DJ Moore is dealing with a hip injury that kept him out of Wednesday’s practice. Will fantasy football managers have the Bears receiver available for this week’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals?
DJ Moore Injury Update
Moore has been managing a hip injury that started during the Chicago Bears’ Week 6 victory over the Washington Commanders. The veteran receiver was taken to a local hospital following that Monday Night Football contest as a precautionary measure after experiencing discomfort throughout the game.​
Head coach Ben Johnson revealed that Moore’s hospital stay was related to the injury, explaining that it was ‘precautionary’ and that they received ‘good news’ about his condition. Moore returned to Chicago the following day and has been managing the issue ever since.​
Moore did not practice on Wednesday with the same hip injury that has persisted for multiple weeks. However, the situation is far from concerning when viewed in proper context. None of the Bears’ top four receivers practiced Wednesday. On the surface, that seems worrying. But it is actually encouraging news.​
It is far more likely that the team is being cautious and not pushing players to practice on a Wednesday rather than all four of the Bears’ top receivers being likely to miss Sunday’s game. Rome Odunze (heel), Luther Burden III (concussion), and Olamide Zaccheeus (knee) were also held out alongside Moore.​
Moore returned to a limited practice on Thursday, which puts him on track to play against the Cincinnati Bengals. Moore did not practice on Wednesday last week either, following the exact same pattern he has established when managing this injury. Holding out banged-up players has become commonplace around the league, and the Bears seem to do it weekly with veteran players dealing with minor issues.​
Teams routinely give established players reduced repetitions or complete days off to manage workload and prevent unnecessary aggravation of minor injuries throughout the long season. Moore’s Wednesday absence represents the Bears taking a cautious maintenance approach with their veteran receiver.​
Given that he completed last week’s game against the Baltimore Ravens without apparent aggravation, catching four passes for 73 yards, he should be fine for Sunday’s matchup.
Moore’s Fantasy Outlook
Moore’s declining fantasy production has become a significant concern for managers who drafted him expecting consistent WR2 numbers. He has struggled to find consistent production this season, with his role diminishing as Odunze has emerged as Caleb Williams’ preferred target.​
The veteran receiver is averaging just 9.5 fantasy points per game this season, which represents a troubling trend for his fantasy value. Moore currently commands just a 17.3% target share and is targeted on only 17.2% of his routes run, ranking outside the top 70 receivers in that crucial metric.​
However, Moore showed signs of improvement last week against Baltimore, posting his best receiving performance in several games with 73 yards on four catches. This represented a positive step forward from his recent struggles and suggests he may be finding his rhythm within the offense.
This week presents another opportunity for Moore to build on that momentum against a Cincinnati Bengals defense that has been vulnerable to opposing passing attacks. The Bengals have allowed significant production to opposing receivers throughout the season, creating a favorable matchup for Moore’s skillset.
Moore’s durability and toughness have been praised by the coaching staff, with offensive coordinator Declan Doyle noting his willingness to battle through injuries and compete every week. His presence on the field provides stability to the Bears’ receiving corps even when dealing with minor ailments.
Fantasy managers should expect Moore to suit up against Cincinnati despite Wednesday’s practice absence. His established pattern of missing Wednesday practice while playing on Sunday gives confidence that he will be available for another favorable matchup opportunity.
