‘No doubt’ Anthony Miller can step up if Darnell Mooney is out vs. Saints

Before the 2020 season, Bears wide receivers coach Mike Furrey talked about how early in the 2019 season, the Bears simply couldn’t trust receiver Anthony Miller.

“I just don’t think, from a maturity standpoint, preparation standpoint, that Anthony probably was 100% all in,” Furrey said back in August.

In the latter half of the 2019 season, something clicked. Miller had 100-yard receiving games in Weeks 13 and 15. Early in the 2020 season, he caught game-winning touchdown passes in Weeks 1 and 3 in comeback wins against the Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons.

But as the season wore on, rookie receiver Darnell Mooney emerged as a reliable and dangerous weapon for coach Matt Nagy’s offense. Miller’s opportunities have plummeted as a result.

Mooney finished the regular season with more catches and yards (61 receptions for 631 yards) than Miller (49 receptions, 485 yards).

Miller hasn’t been targeted more than three times since a Dec. 6 loss to the Detroit Lions. His playing time dropped to a season-low 25% of offensive snaps in a Week 15 win over Minnesota on Dec. 20.

Miller’s two game-winning touchdown catches are his only touchdowns this season.

But now, as the Bears prepare to play the New Orleans Saints at 3:40 p.m. Sunday in a Wild Card round playoff game, the Bears might need Miller more than ever. Mooney injured his ankle in the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers last week and didn’t return. The Bears have been mum on his status, but Mooney didn’t practice Wednesday.

[Hub Arkush: Underdogs for sure, but are the Bears really that much worse than the Saints?]

That leaves the door open for Miller, and even receiver Javon Wims, to make up for Mooney’s snaps if Mooney can’t play Sunday.

Miller had arguably his best game against the Saints back in a Week 8 overtime loss. He caught a season-high eight passes for 73 yards in a game where Nick Foles started at quarterback for the Bears.

“The Saints play a lot of man, so that created a lot of opportunities for me and the guys to run basically any route we could to get open,” Miller said Wednesday. “I think it’s going to be the same this game. I believe they’re top-five in the league playing man coverage, so I expect to have a fun game.”

Bears offensive coordinator Bill Lazor said he likes Miller’s ability to win one-on-one matchups and create separation. That helped him last time against the Saints, as it helped him in Week 1 against a Lions team that was known for playing man coverage.

“If the opportunity comes there’s no doubt what he can do for us,” Lazor said. “Of course, he’s shown it against this team.”

[Read more: Bears WR Darnell Mooney just played his best game ... then he hurt his ankle]

With Mooney playing at a high level, it has been tough for Miller to find opportunities. In his past four games, he hasn’t caught more than two passes in any one game and hasn’t totaled more than 16 receiving yards.

Lazor believes Miller has played well and does what is asked of him, while acknowledging that “you wish the guy got the ball more.”

“With Anthony, he’s continued to work, and I feel really good that if this is the week where it comes to him more he’ll be ready,” Lazor said Wednesday.

When the Bears won the NFC North in 2018 and lost to Philadelphia in the Wild Card round, Miller caught three passes for 34 yards in his first playoff game. Much has changed since then for the Bears, but Miller, Wims and Allen Robinson were all a part of that team.

Miller said all the receivers had a play or two they wish they could have back from that game and that the Bears are “fortunate to be back” after the struggles of the 2020 season.

“People are already counting us out, but we believe in us, what we can do, and we’re ready,” Miller said.

[Read more: Roquan Smith, Darnell Mooney remain out; Jaylon Johnson returns to Bears practice in limited capacity]