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Wright looks to get right with Chicago Bears

New Chicago Bears wide receiver Kendall Wright caught 64 passes for 626 yards in his rookie season after being drafted in the first round (20th overall) by the Tennessee Titans.

So it wasn't surprising when he followed that up with 94 receptions for 1,079 yards in 2013.

Bears offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains was the Titans' offensive coordinator in 2013, one of the factors that played into Wright signing a one-year deal last week with the Bears that could be worth as much as $4 million, including incentives.

But the 5-foot-10, 191-pound Wright has not approached his 2013 numbers since that breakout season. He has seen his production diminish in each of the past three seasons. Wright's receptions have dropped from 57 to 36 to 29 in 2016.

What changed?

"He wasn't doing anything special, I just think I fit in the offense that he runs," Wright said of Loggains. "He obviously let me play. I was on the field. I wasn't getting just 10 or 15 snaps a game. There were no limitations on my play."

Indeed, Wright was targeted a whopping 139 times in 2013. But after that season, head coach Mike Munchak, Loggains and the rest of the staff were fired. Over the next three seasons, Wright's targets plummeted from 93 to 60 then down to 42 last season.

"I feel like I didn't even play football last year," Wright said. "I can do a lot when I'm out there on the field."

Now the Baylor product is looking to regain his 2013 form with the Bears. With injury-prone veteran Eddie Royal a likely salary-cap casualty, Wright is considered a logical replacement as the Bears' slot receiver. But he will have competition from ex-Steeler Markus Wheaton, who also signed on last week for two years and $11 million, including $5 million guaranteed.

Wright made $7.32 million last year when the Titans picked up the option year on his rookie contract. But he missed all of the preseason and the first three game in the regular season with a hamstring injury. He also was a healthy scratch in the season finale and did not play on Dec. 11 after he was late for team meetings a day before that game.

The 27-year-old did have an 8-catch, 133-yard, 1-touchdown game against the Cleveland Browns at midseason.

Kendall Wright stats

Year Rec. Yds. Avg. TDs

2012 64 626 9.8 4

2013 94 1,079 11.5 2

2014 57 715 12.5 6

2015 36 408 11.3 3

2016 29 416 14.3 3

Totals 280 3,244 11.6 18

• Follow Bob's Bears reports on Twitter @BobLeGere.

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