A toe injury resulted in Chase Claypool landing on injured reserve last August. He was waived with an injury settlement by the Bills, something which allowed him to hit free agency.
The Canadian wideout did not land an opportunity in 2024, however. As a result, Claypool spent the year rehabbing in preparation for his next NFL gig. A recent Instagram post confirmed he is now fully healthy as he eyes a contract in advance of training camp.
“I tore a ligament and a tendon in my second toe and have been rehabbing, working out, and recovering every day for the past year,” Claypool wrote. “I am back to being the strongest and fastest I’ve ever been and couldn’t be more excited to step back out on the field and let my actions speak for themselves.”
During his first two seasons with the Steelers, Claypool flashed considerable potential. The Notre Dame product posted 860-plus yards both years while totaling 11 touchdowns over that span. Things took a turn in 2022, however, with his Pittsburgh tenure ending by means of a trade to the Bears. The price Chicago paid – a second-round pick – to acquire Claypool proved to be exorbitant after he made just 14 scoreless catches in seven games with the team.
Following an unproductive start to the 2023 campaign, Claypool remained away from the Bears while a trade was sorted out. His arrival in Miami did not yield a notable role on offense, and to no surprise he was not retained last spring. Claypool’s brief Bills stint came about via a one-year, $1.23MM pact. A similar deal will be expected if he is to line up a gig in advance of training camp.
At the age of 27 (as of Monday), the 6-4, 238-pound Claypool could offer modest upside as a depth option for interested teams this summer. The Saskatchewan Roughriders currently own Claypool’s CFL rights, but his attention remains focused on securing another deal south of the border.