Bears add former Panthers QB to reunite with DJ Moore |
When training camp breaks this summer, this Chicago Bears team is going to look completely different than a year ago. Not only are plenty of fan favorites no longer with the team, but a bevy of new faces will be joining the Bears this season. That includes newly acquired WR DJ Moore, who was traded from Carolina to Chicago earlier this month.
While Moore has gone on record to say it was an honor to be traded for the No. 1 pick, he understands it comes with a ton of pressure. Not only does he have a new offense to learn, but he will have plenty of teammates to meet to create some chemistry before the season. However, there will be one familiar face for Moore to lean on if needed, as former XFL star and Carolina Panther QB PJ Walker has been added to the QB room. Don't get it twisted. Justin Fields is the starter, and this move doesn't threaten his job in the slightest. Instead, adding Walker to the QB will only bring in more competition for the No. 2 spot, as Chicago still needs to figure out what they want to do for a backup QB. Walker is the most likely option at this point after spending the past three seasons with Carolina. The former Temple star, Walker, was constantly criticized for his 5-11 frame and thus had difficulty latching on to an NFL team. That is the main reason he signed with the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL to show teams he can play football. After all, that is the sole purpose why that league was created, as it gives NFL hopefuls a chance to prove their worth.
Not only did Walker show he could play, but he played at such a high level that he helped lead the Roughnecks to a 5-0 record before the season ended. He was on track to be the MVP that season and his play earned him a contract with the Panthers. The 28-year-old Walker was the primary backup for Carolina the past three seasons, but has played in nearly a season's worth of games thus far.
Across the past three seasons, Walker has seen action in 15 games, with seven coming as starts. The stat line isn’t all that inspiring (57.5% completion pct., 1,461 yards, 5 TD, 11 INT, 63.9 rating), but Walker in a QB2 role feels like something that makes sense. Walker posted a 2-5 record as a starter, but showed plenty of growth this past season.
Walker already has a standing relationship with Moore. There may be an additional benefit in helping Fields acclimate with his new top target. At a minimum, it bolsters the Bears’ quarterbacks room. Bears fans saw what happened when Fields went down last season, as the offense was a shell of itself. Having Walker in the mix at least gives the Bears two QBs with similar skill sets, so you wouldn't have to change things up too much should Walker be forced into action.
With Nathan Peterman and Tim Boyle no longer on the roster, the Bears QB currently sits with Fields, Walker, and Trevor Siemien, whom the Bears brought in last season. If you ask most fans, this move doesn't do much for them, as he isn't being brought here to start. However, this move could benefit the Bears from running into the Boyle situation late in the season.
Having a guy like this with NFL experience on your roster gives you an insurance policy should an injury happen. You are also adding a guy who has played with Moore and may know what it takes to unleash his full potential. Backup QB or not, Walker was a stud in the XFL and was a fan favorite. He is living proof of what the concept of the XFL is, as that league helped turn a dream into a reality.
