Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore returned to the area Tuesday after spending Monday night at a hospital near Washington.
Moore received extra medical attention on his injured groin as a precaution and did not fly back with the team after Monday’s 25-24 victory over the Washington Commanders in Landover, Md.
“Good news is that he’s back in Chicago now and we’ll take him day by day,” Bears coach Ben Johnson said Tuesday.
At one point during Monday’s game, Moore visited the medical tent on the Bears sideline for an extended period. He returned to the game, however, and remained on the field with the offense through the end.
Moore played 60 snaps in all — 94% of all offensive snaps. Asked why a groin injury would necessitate a hospital visit, Johnson said that was “more of a personal story” and declined to comment further.
If Moore were to be out for a little while, that could mean more opportunities for rookie receiver Luther Burden III, who has yet to play more than 29% of the offensive snaps in any game. The second-round draft pick has 11 receptions for 150 yards and one touchdown this season.
In other injury news, linebacker Noah Sewell exited Monday’s game with a concussion. Johnson said Sewell will go through the concussion protocol this week.
As for kicker Cairo Santos, who missed the game with a right thigh injury, Johnson said he would have to get an update from the training staff. Santos practiced last week ahead of the game, but the Bears felt more comfortable going with the fully healthy Jake Moody on Monday night.
“I’ll be curious to see how he’s doing at this point, but we’ve got a lot of confidence in him,” Johnson said of Santos. “So wherever we can get him back, we’re going to be in good shape.”
The Bears elevated Moody off the practice squad for the game, and he made four field goals, including a game-winning 38-yarder on the final play.
Moody became a surprise hero for the Bears just a month after the San Francisco 49ers parted ways with the former third-round pick. Moody missed two field-goal attempts in Week 1, and the 49ers waived him two days later. The Bears signed him to their practice squad later that week.
“It just builds confidence not only with the coaching staff with him, but his teammates within him as well,” Johnson said of Moody. “I think it goes a long way for his own confidence in himself too. I think he knows the type of player he’s capable of being. We all knew that when we acquired him. We’re very happy that he’s here and he chose to be here with us.”
Because Moody was a game-day elevation, he will revert to the practice squad this week. If the Bears elect to use him Sunday against the New Orleans Saints at Soldier Field, they would have to elevate him again.
NFL teams can elevate a player from the practice squad up to three times in a season before they have to either sign him to the 53-man roster or release him.
