Keenan Allen on teaming up with DJ Moore: ‘It’s going to be pretty good’

New Chicago Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen is excited to team up with DJ Moore, giving the Bears another weapon in their offense.

LAKE FOREST, Ill., — Ryan Poles addressed a need on his offense by acquiring wide receiver Keenan Allen for a fourth-round pick. Allen joins a Chicago Bears roster that is thin at wide receiver outside of No. 1 option DJ Moore. And now he has the chance to pair up with Moore who is coming off a career year, giving Chicago a 1-2 punch there.

“Any time you’ve got two guys that can make plays and beat man coverage, it’s going to be tough,” Allen said. That’s any time. Obviously, he’s a guy who has made plays in this league for a long time and myself as well. If you put both of us together, it’s going to be pretty good.”

While Moore enjoyed that career year in Chicago last season by posting a 96-reception, 1,364-yard campaign, Allen was Los Angeles’ leading receiver as he finished with 108 receptions for 1,243 yards. It was his sixth 1,000-receiving-yard performance of his career and the fifth time he had over 100 receptions.

Both were in somewhat similar situations as well.

As the two lead their teams in receiving, the options behind them struggled. It was running back Austin Ekeler and tight end Gerald Everett, who also signed with the Bears, as the next leading receivers for the Chargers. In Chicago, Cole Kmet had a big season with 73 receptions but behind him, it was Roschon Johnson and Darnell Mooney as the only two other receivers over 30 receptions.

With two receivers who can be No. 1 receivers in a lot of offenses, plus Kmet and the Bears’ loaded backfield, Allen is excited to get to work with this unit. Having those two receivers also forces the defense to make decisions in terms of zone coverage, double teams and maybe extra attention over the top.

“We can be really special. Like you said, we got weapons. You guys who can beat man all over the field. So double-teaming one guy is going to be costly for the defense. I think we can use that as our advantage. Having a running back that can come out of the backfield and make plays and beat 1-on-1s, that’s kind of big.”

He believes no matter the uncertainty at quarterback, he can bring some value in terms of being a veteran and knowing the game that can help whoever the starter is in 2024.

“I’m a friendly guy on and off the field,” Allen said. “Obviously, on the football field, I know the game. I know the ins and outs, I know the zones, I know how to beat man, I know pretty much how to play the game. I just think I’m friendly for the quarterback because I’ll be in the right spots. I know how to communicate with him and my body language is solid, too.”