Steelers Now
Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool revealed on Instagram that he’s making an NFL comeback. Claypool, who was with the Buffalo Bills last year, was sidelined for the entire 2024 season after suffering a torn ligament and tendon in his toe. He was released with an injury settlement on Aug. 15.
Claypool says he’s fully healthy now and ready to contribute for an NFL team.
“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. 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,” Claypool wrote on Instagram. “I deeply and truly believe that the pieces will align, and I will work my way into the position to show off what’s been suppressed these last two years.”
Claypool’s career is certainly at a crossroads after fizzling out with Pittsburgh, the Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins and the Buffalo Bills.
Claypool was reportedly turning heads at Bills OTAs last year.
“Claypool has been the Bills’ most consistent receiver during OTAs and is setting the stage for what should be a run at the 53-man roster,” Matt Parino of New York Upstate wrote in June. “He made the most explosive play of the day, catching a deep bomb from backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky during 11-on-11. Once he gets past his defender, it’s hard for the safeties to catch up and rookie Cole Bishop learned that lesson on the play, which would have gone for a touchdown in a game.”
Claypool noted that he felt like he was turning the corner in Buffalo.
“Signing with Buffalo was the best thing that could’ve ever happened to me. I was the strongest, fastest, and most prepared I had ever been. I was playing my best football — working my way up from LAST (14th) string to taking first-team reps by camp. Most of all, I was doing it with a group of guys I truly appreciated,” Claypool wrote.
Claypool broke out in his rookie year with the Steelers in 2020, recording 62 receptions for 873 yards (14.1 average) and nine touchdowns. He also had two rushing touchdowns. It’s been all downhill since, however.
The Steelers traded Claypool to Chicago on Nov. 1, 2022 in exchange for the Bears’ second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. His tenure with the Bears went about as poorly as possible. In the 10 games he suited up with the Bears, the team went 0-10. He caught a total of 18 passes for 191 yards and one touchdown in those 10 games.
After less than a year with the team, Chicago dealt Claypool to Miami, which was also an uneventful experience. Claypool recorded just eight receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown in eight games with the Dolphins.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: [Ex-Steelers WR Chase Claypool Ready to Make NFL...
