DJ Moore has big game for the Bears this week. It hurts the Panthers in two ways.

Alex Zietlow
·2 min read
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DJ Moore had quite the game Thursday night.

And Carolina Panthers fans largely expressed the same reaction: Just our luck.

Moore, who less than a year ago was Carolina’s No. 1 receiver, finished his fifth game in a Chicago Bears uniform with eight receptions for 230 yards and three touchdowns. Two of those scores against the Washington Commanders came in the game’s first 20 minutes — with a 58-yard reception interspersed in there, as well.

This was Moore’s best game since being included in the offseason blockbuster trade from the Panthers to the Chicago Bears that effectively paved the way for Carolina to take quarterback Bryce Young with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft.

But his performance hits the Carolina Panthers’ fan base particularly hard for reasons beyond the fact that Moore used to be on the Panthers’ roster.

For one, the performance propelled the Bears (1-4) to a 40-20 win, their first victory of the season. That means the Panthers hold the lone winless record in the NFL at the moment, with a tough road contest upcoming against the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

For another, the Panthers are reportedly in the market for a new elite receiver to furnish some explosiveness on an offense that has struggled in nearly every way thus far. Maybe trading for Jerry Jeudy could do the trick? Marquise Brown?

Thursday was a reminder that Moore — who put together 1,000-yard seasons three times in his final four years with the Panthers despite the carousel of quarterbacks throwing to him — is an elite receiver that the team let go.

What’s worse: Any Bears success is a reminder of the first-round pick the Panthers traded away. Carolina’s first-round pick next year belongs to the Bears, taking away what is normally the consolation prize for any struggling or rebuilding team.

Commanders coach and former Panthers coach Ron Rivera was also involved in Thursday’s contest, and so was former Panthers receiver Curtis Samuel, who caught six passes for 65 yards and a touchdown.

Carolina Panthers related reactions to DJ Moore game