The Buffalo Bills were in need of a wide receiver last season to play a part as a key weapon for Josh Allen. With that in mind, they took a chance on Chase Claypool, who had wandered around the NFL after leaving the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was cheap and with upside, but he never saw action in the gridiron. Why? Well Claypool has stated the reason and it’s shocking.
Claypool wrote a brutally honest post on Instagram in which he explained what really happened. “It’s been a year since I’ve posted on Instagram, and almost nobody knows what actually happened to me. Signing with Buffalo was the best thing that could’ve ever happened to me.” Claypool said. “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.”
He proceeded to thank the Bills locker room, Josh Allen included, for the way he was welcomed to the team. ‘Mapletron’ went to explain his injury and how he is ready to get back on track. “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 has incredible raw talent
Claypool is a free agent now but it’s likely that plenty of teams will take a gamble on him. After all, he is only 26 years old and he’s shown his talent is enormous, even if his career has derailed a bit. In fact, Buffalo could call him back given how well he was doing last year before the injury occured.
His first two seasons in the NFL were very good. Claypool surpassed the 800-yard mark in both years and in his rookie season, he scored 9 touchdowns. His ability to sprint and make great contested catches was impressive. However, he then started to fall down on the pecking order. Claypool is looking for redemption and some team will eventually give that chance to him. It’s on the former Notre Dame wideout to prove he still belongs.
Claypool has played with very good quarterbacks
Claypool has played with the likes of Ben Roethlisberger, Tua Tagovailoa and Josh Allen. His best version was in Pittsburgh, though. He also played for the Bears when Justin Fields was the signal-caller.
As Claypool prepares to get his NFL career on the right path, he has to hope his quarterback-luck is still good enough to land with a good passer. In the end, the better the quarterback, the better the chances for him to succeed.