Bears receiver Darnell Mooney sounded a little chagrined to have his five receptions for 82 yards Sunday against the Saints described as a ‘‘breakout’’ game. But it has been that kind of season for him.
‘‘I just [was] doing what I’ve been doing the whole season, and the ball found me,’’ Mooney said. ‘‘I felt normal. I didn’t feel anything outside of that, and I continue to run my routes [and] get open. And if the ball comes, it comes. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t.’’
Mooney’s actual breakout came in 2021, when he had 81 receptions for 1,055 yards and four touchdowns. But his production has diminished in coordinator Luke Getsy’s offense. He had 40 receptions for 493 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games last season and 15 receptions for 225 yards and one touchdown this season until Sunday.
It has been a tough go for Mooney, who is looking for a contract extension. He’s the ultimate team player, but he also knows the offense clicks when he’s getting the ball.
‘‘No doubt. Everybody knows that,’’ Mooney said. ‘‘If I’m able to get the ball in my hand, I’m a playmaker; it’s no hidden thing with that. I’ve always made plays when I have the ball in my hand. That’s my job, and that’s what I want to do. We have to do more of that, whether it’s me, Cole [Kmet], DJ [Moore]. You get the ball in those guys’ hands, and things go good with the offense.’’
Mooney could use a big second half, being in the final year of his contract. He’s hopeful to get a deal done with the Bears, but he doesn’t seem worried about the situation.
‘‘Eventually, somebody’s going to pay,’’ he said. ‘‘Whether it’s here or wherever you go, somebody is going to take care of you. So you’ve just got to go out and play ball. [If] it comes, it comes, and you just have to take care of your job.
‘‘Obviously, I would love to be here. I love Chicago. I love the fans. I love just being here. We’ve got everything in here. We have one of the nicest facilities ever, so I would definitely love to be here. But you can’t worry about it. Somebody is going to pay, eventually.’’
