Bears acquire Canadian receiver Claypool to boost NFL-worst passing attack

Canadian wide receiver Chase Claypool is heading to the Chicago Bears.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have traded Claypool to Chicago for a second-round pick in the 2023 draft.

The trade gives Chicago quarterback Justin Fields a downfield threat to boost a passing attack that ranks last in the NFL, averaging just 126.9 yards per game.

Claypool of Abbotsford, B.C., has 32 receptions for 301 yards and one touchdown this season for the Steelers (2-6). He also threw the first touchdown pass of his career in last week's loss to Philadelphia with a short flip to fullback Derek Watt on a gadget play.

The six-foot-four Claypool, however, became expendable thanks to the emergence of rookie George Pickens.

Pickens has quickly emerged as Pittsburgh's No. 2 receiver, bumping Claypool to third on the depth chart behind Pickens and Diontae Johnson.

Claypool was a revelation in 2020 after being grabbed in the second round, scoring 10 touchdowns (eight receiving, two rushing) in his first 10 games while helping Pittsburgh get off to an 11-0 start on its way to the AFC North title.

Replicating that production has proven difficult. Claypool has just four touchdowns in his past 29 games.

The trade gives the rebuilding Steelers more capital in the 2023 draft to help a group searching for a new identity in its first year without Ben Roethlisberger, who retired in January.

Pittsburgh's 2-6 start is its worst since 2013. The defence has struggled without injured star linebacker T.J. Watt and the offence is sputtering behind rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett.

Claypool gives Fields another talented, if enigmatic, target to help make the Bears more two-dimensional.

Falcons trade suspended WR Ridley

Suspended Atlanta receiver Calvin Ridley is getting a fresh start in Jacksonville, although it's unclear when he will be allowed to play again.

The Jaguars made a complex deal to land Ridley — and potentially give quarterback Trevor Lawrence a true No. 1 receiver in 2023 — just before the NFL trading deadline Tuesday.

"This is an opportunity to add a proven playmaker to our already talented wide receiver room as we continue to build our roster for 2023 and beyond," Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke said in a statement. "We are looking forward to finishing strong this season and integrating Calvin into our program at the appropriate time."

A person with knowledge of the trade said compensation to the Falcons ranges between a second-round pick in 2024 and a sixth-rounder. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because details had not been made public.

The draft pick is contingent on when Ridley gets reinstated, how much he plays in 2023 and whether he signs a long-term deal with the Jaguars, the person said.

Ridley tweeted "Duuuval" with two emojis of faces with steam coming from both nostrils, relaying the team's rallying cry.

Suspension over betting on NFL games

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Ridley in March for at least the 2022 season after a league investigation determined Ridley bet on NFL games in 2021 while away from the team addressing mental health concerns. The league said the suspension will carry "through at least the conclusion of the 2022 season."

The NFL said the betting took place during a five-day period in late November 2021. Ridley was placed on the non-football illness list following Week 8 last season, which ended Nov. 1.

Ridley responded on his Twitter account that day, saying "I bet 1500 total I don't have a gambling problem."

A league investigation uncovered no evidence inside information was used or that any game was compromised by Ridley's betting. Nor was there evidence suggesting Falcons coaches, players or staff were aware of Ridley's betting activity.

"As our team continues its growth, we continue our daily focus on improving our roster and believe this move is the best decision to make at this time," Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said.

"We appreciate Calvin's contributions to the organization and wish him well on his next steps."

Missed final 2 months last season

Ridley may petition for reinstatement after Feb. 23, 2023.

The suspension wasn't the first time Ridley was unavailable to the Falcons. He sat out the final two months of the 2021 season and explained his absence in a Twitter post that read, "I need to step away from football at this time and focus on my mental well being."

Ridley was Atlanta's 2018 first-round draft pick from Alabama. He had 90 catches for 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns in 2020. He had only 31 receptions for 281 yards and two touchdowns before sitting out the final two months of the season.

He is scheduled to count $11.1 million US against Jacksonville's salary cap in 2023, which is the final year of his rookie deal.

The Jaguars have Christian Kirk, Zay Jones and Jamal Agnew under contract next season, but the three are considered complementary receivers.

49ers trade RB Wilson Jr. to Dolphins

The San Francisco 49ers traded running back Jeff Wilson Jr. to the Miami Dolphins for a fifth-round pick on Tuesday.

The Niners had a surplus at running back after trading for Christian McCaffrey last month and with Week 1 starter Elijah Mitchell expected to return after the bye week from a knee injury.

So they managed to recoup a draft pick after trading away four of them for McCaffrey and reunited Wilson with Miami coach Mike McDaniel, who had been in charge of the running game in San Francisco for Wilson's first four seasons in the NFL.

Wilson will team with former 49ers teammate Raheem Mostert in Miami's backfield after the Dolphins traded Chase Edmonds in a package to Denver earlier Tuesday for pass rusher Bradley Chubb.

Wilson has been a productive back when given the opportunity to play since entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He led the Niners in rushing with 600 yards in 2020 and had 92 carries for a team-high 468 yards and two TDs this year.

Wilson has averaged 84.1 yards from scrimmage in his 18 career starts in San Francisco.

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