Bear Necessities: N’Keal Harry out to prove he can be dominant player in NFL
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New Bears wide receiver N’Keal Harry is embracing his fresh start in Chicago. The Bears traded for the former first-round pick, sending a 2024 seventh rounder to the Patriots earlier this month.
It’s the kind of low-risk, high-reward move that general manager Ryan Poles has made all offseason. Poles praised Harry’s skillset and physical traits, and he believes Harry can help improve this team.
Harry disappointed during his time in New England, where he didn’t live up to his first-round billing. In three seasons with the Patriots, Harry totaled 57 receptions for 598 yards and four touchdowns. Simply put, it’s been bad.
But Harry isn’t focused on what went wrong in New England. Instead, he’s focusing on doing what he can to help his new team win.
“I got a real chip on my shoulder,” Harry told reporters on Wednesday. “I’m looking to come in and prove that I can help this team win.”
Harry has something to prove, and that starts with earning a roster spot in an otherwise unproven receiving corp. Darnell Mooney, Byron Pringle and Velus Jones Jr. are the only locks at wideout this summer. Which means Harry has a good chance of earning a roster spot.
“I just want to show how dominant I can be as a player in the NFL,” he said.
But Harry isn’t the only wideout in that room with something to prove. Veterans like Dante Pettis, David Moore and Dazz Newsome are also looking to earn a roster spot. It’s something that Harry is embracing.
“This is a golden opportunity for all of us,” Harry said. “It’s just, who’s going to grab it?”
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> Following speculation that Robert Quinn wants out of Chicago, Quinn said that he doesn’t want to be traded.
> We got our first look at the starting offensive line in training camp, which featured the same combination from minicamp. Luckily, starters aren’t decided on the first day of camp.
> The Bears placed Roquan Smith on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list to start camp. Does it have anything to do with his contract situation?
> Matt Eberflus confirmed that Smith will play weak side linebacker this season, which means Nicholas Morrow will call plays as the middle linebacker.
> Ryan Poles isn’t getting enough credit for adding two veteran offensive linemen in Riley Reiff and Michael Schofield for less than $4 million in salary cap space.
> With training camp underway, we took a look at storylines to watch, shared our projected depth chart and previewed the top position battles to watch.
> We counted down the 30 Most Important Bears of 2022. See the full list here.
> Packers WR Christian Watson had minor knee surgery in June. Read more on Packers Wire.
> Justin Jefferson speaks on Mike Zimmer not giving him chance to break Randy Moss’ record. Read more on Vikings Wire.
> Dan Campbell: ‘We’ve got to have’ big jumps in play from 2nd-year players. Read more on Lions Wire.
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