Full Breakdown
Chase Claypool Tries Out at Packers Rookie Minicamp
5/2/2026, 2:54:30 AM
Core Event: Tryout Details
On May 1-2, 2026 the Green Bay Packers held their rookie minicamp in Green Bay. The 38-player roster comprised six draft picks, ten undrafted free-agents and nine tryout players. Veteran wide receiver Chase Claypool, a 2020 second-round pick, participated as a tryout player. The minicamp is the first offseason workout for rookies and young players and serves as an early evaluation for potential roster additions.
Background & Career Trajectory
Claypool entered the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers, posting 62 receptions for 873 yards and nine touchdowns in 2020 and 59 receptions for 860 yards and two touchdowns in 2021. In November 2022 the Steelers traded him to the Chicago Bears for a 2023 second-round pick, which later became cornerback Joey Porter Jr. Claypool recorded 18 catches for 191 yards and one touchdown with Chicago before being dealt to the Miami Dolphins in October 2023, where he logged four receptions for 26 yards. He signed a one-year contract with the Buffalo Bills in May 2024, was placed on injured reserve after tearing a ligament and tendon in his second toe, and was released with an injury settlement later that summer. He did not appear on an NFL roster in 2025.
Data & Statistics
- Career totals: 175 receptions, 2,261 receiving yards, 13 touchdowns.
- Steelers (2020-21): 121 catches, 1,733 yards, 11 touchdowns.
- Bears (2022-23): 18 catches, 191 yards, 1 touchdown.
- Dolphins (2023): 4 catches, 26 yards.
- Injury (2024): torn ligament and tendon in second toe.
Official Statements & Responses
Head coach Matt LaFleur praised Claypool’s recent condition, noting he “has had some great film out there… he’s been productive and he looks like he’s in great shape. And he’s big. We’ll see how it goes.” LaFleur also emphasized the team’s broader evaluation approach: “I think any time you’ve got guys that have put regular-season games on tape… it’s about how they acclimate themselves to your offense and just how they go out there and perform.” Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst has not pursued aggressive offensive additions this offseason, according to reports.
Criticism & Opposition
Former Bears coach Matt Eberflus criticized Claypool’s work ethic, stating he “didn’t meet the team’s standards of being on time, being respectful and working hard.” The Bears’ trade for Claypool was widely described as a misstep, with the player labeled a “headache in the locker room” and criticized for limited blocking and perceived immaturity.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on Claypool’s most recent NFL affiliation: some list the Buffalo Bills as his last team (2024 injury and release), while others cite the Miami Dolphins as his final active roster (2023). Additionally, his CFL rights belong to the Saskatchewan Roughriders, a detail not reflected in the Packers’ public roster. No contract has been announced, leaving his status uncertain beyond the tryout.
Verbatim Quotes
- “He's been productive and he looks like he's in great shape. And he's big. We'll see how it goes.” — Matt LaFleur, Packers head coach
- “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.” — Chase Claypool, Instagram post (July 2025)
- “being on time, being respectful and working hard.” — Matt Eberflus, former Bears coach
- “Signing with Buffalo was the best thing that could’ve ever happened to me.” — Chase Claypool, Instagram post (2024)
- “I think any time you’ve got guys that have put regular-season games on tape, I think that gives you a little bit of comfort, but at the end of the day, it’s about how they acclimate themselves to your offense and just how they go out there and perform,” Matt LaFleur said after the draft.” — Matt LaFleur, post-draft comment
Why It Matters / Impact
The Packers entered the 2026 offseason without a drafted wide receiver and have lost Romeo Doubs to free agency and traded Dontayvion Wicks. Adding a veteran with size and speed could deepen the position and provide competition for younger receivers. A successful return for Claypool would also offer symbolic revenge against the Bears, their historic rival.
What's Next
If Claypool impresses during the minicamp, the Packers may sign him to the 90-man offseason roster. He would then need to survive July training camp, preseason cuts and the final 53-man roster deadline in August to secure a spot for the regular season.
