If you’d like to make a quick buck off your friends with a trivia question, ask them which player caught the first touchdown of the Chicago Bears’ 2022 season.
And if a friend comes up with Dante Pettis as their answer, then they’re as much of a die-hard as you or me.
As for Pettis, he is back with he Bears for another go. The team announced his re-signing on Monday morning:
Pettis, 27, played in all 17 games last year and even made 7 starts. He caught just 19 passes for 245 receiving yards, but scored three touchdowns. For what it’s worth, each of those touchdowns was thrown to him by Justin Fields. Maybe that means something. Or maybe it doesn’t. Whatever it is, the Bears’ receiver room has more depth at the top now than it did when Pettis signed on last year. And that fills me with a sense of relief.
When Pettis came on board last year, there was hope that maybe a former second-round pick could achieve post-hype sleeper status. There is no pressure on Pettis this time around. Perhaps he can settle into a role as a down-the-depth-chart receiver option who also contributes on special teams. Pettis was a main punt return option last year and could conceivably win that role again in 2023. That might not mean much to some, but you’ve gotta fill out that 53-player roster somehow!