WATCH: Justin Fields scores first NFL touchdown for Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears first-round pick Justin Fields scored his first NFL touchdown, carrying the ball around the right side from three yards out to make it a 20-14 game in the third quarter. The Bears trail the Rams with more than a quarter to play.
The former Georgia and Ohio State quarterback was taken No. 11 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft after the Bears moved on from former first-round pick Mitch Trubisky. The team also signed former Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton to a short-term deal to help ease the rookies transition to the NFL.
Despite pressure from fans and analysts, head coach Matt Nagy maintained that Dalton would start the season with the first-team offense no matter what results came out of the preseason.
The quarterback controversy promises to grow as fans watch both candidates in live action on Sunday Night Football.
More about Justin Fields
Before becoming the future of the Chicago Bears franchise, Justin Fields was a five-star recruit in the state of Georgia. He decided to stay home at Georgia, playing limited time behind Jake Fromm.
Fields then transferred to Ohio State and became an immediate starter. The 6-foot-3, 227-pound quarterback led the Buckeyes to consecutive College Football Playoff appearances before leaving for the NFL Draft.
He finished his college career with 5,701 passing yards, 67 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also ran for 1,133 yards and 19 touchdowns over his three seasons.
Quarterback controversy
Plenty of people have weighed in on the quarterback controversy over the past months as Andy Dalton and Justin Fields continue to show what they can do. NFL Network’s Ian Rapaport and Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace have both provided analysis on the situation.
“Andy Dalton essentially until there’s no choice in the building but to make Justin Fields the starter,” said Rapoport. “And if that sounds vague that’s basically what it is with any rookie quarterback or any quarterback competition.”
He continued: “However, once there’s some struggles, if there are some struggles for this team, then it is simply going to be the entire world of Chicago calling for this very, very talented rookie. Let me be clear, Justin Fields has been everything the Bears thought. He’s got swag, he’s got leadership, he’s got talent, he’s got intelligence.”
Pace offered prospective from inside the Bears training camp, also making sure to remain diplomatic talking about both quarterbacks.
“I just feel like we’re just in a good position with Andy,” Pace said, on the team’s official website. “It starts with how we feel about Andy, and we’re very confident in him and where he’s at. So, there’s no need for us to rush Justin.”