Chase Claypool Eyes NFL Comeback After Lost Year to Injury
In October 2023, the Miami Dolphins sent a sixth-round pick to the Chicago Bears in exchange for wide receiver Chase Claypool. The deal, at the time, was seen as a low-risk move. But it never gained traction—Claypool managed just four catches for 26 yards and zero touchdowns in his brief Miami stint.
Although he signed with the Buffalo Bills the following offseason, Claypool hasn’t seen NFL action since. Now, nearly a year later, the 26-year-old free agent is opening up about the injury that sidelined him—and his road back.
The Setback and Silence
In a heartfelt Fourth of July post on Instagram, Claypool broke his silence, detailing what’s kept him off the field.
“My first season-ending injury in 18 years came at the worst possible time,” he wrote. “I felt like God was playing a joke on me… It’s been a year since I’ve posted, and almost nobody knows what actually happened to me.”
Claypool revealed that he tore a ligament and tendon in his second toe last August—an injury that required a lengthy recovery and ultimately led to a season-ending settlement with the Bills.
The Buffalo Chapter
Despite never suiting up on Sundays, Claypool credits his time in Buffalo as a pivotal point in his growth, physically and mentally.
“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 14th string to first-team reps in camp.”
He also expressed gratitude to several Bills teammates and staff members, including Josh Allen, A.J. Epenesa, Greg Rousseau, the receiver room, the offensive line, and his position coach.
“They made me feel like family… they had my back always,” Claypool wrote.
The Road Ahead
Now fully recovered, Claypool is optimistic about his return to the league:
“I am back to being the strongest and fastest I’ve ever been and couldn’t be more excited to step back on the field and let my actions speak for themselves.”
While there’s no word yet on where Claypool might land, he’s made it clear he’s ready for a second chance. With his size, experience, and upside, a return to Miami—or a fresh start elsewhere—isn’t out of the question. Given the Dolphins’ need for affordable offensive depth, a reunion isn’t far-fetched.
Rising Star Turned Question Mark
Claypool burst onto the scene in 2020 as a second-round pick out of Notre Dame by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He posted 62 receptions, 873 yards, and 9 touchdowns as a rookie and looked like a future star. But his production steadily declined, and he was eventually dealt to the Bears for a second-round pick—a move Chicago surely regrets.
Since then, Claypool’s career has been marked by unmet expectations, but the talent and athleticism remain.
“I truly believe the pieces will align,” Claypool concluded. “I’ve got love for you all.”