Matt Nagy updates Justin Fields status ahead of Bears vs Packers
Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy told reporters that rookie quarterback Justin Fields has been medically cleared from his rib injury and will start Sunday night against the Green Bay Packers, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Fields has missed two weeks after suffering a rib injury against the Baltimore Ravens. With an upcoming divisional showdown with the Green Bay Packers this weekend, his status is now more clearly defined.
Given the nature of the injury, much of Sunday’s decision comes down to pain tolerance. Previous comments from teammates that Justin Fields did not show any indications of pain from the rib injury served as a positive sign.
In Fields absence, backup quarterback Andy Dalton has struggled throwing three touchdowns and five interceptions over two weeks. The Bears have split those two games 1-1 after losing against the Ravens game in which Fields suffered the injury.
Justin Fields has experienced ups and downs throughout his rookie season. Over 10 games and eight starts, he has 1,361 passing yards with four touchdowns and eight interceptions. Fields is completing 58.1 percent of his passes and has rushed for 311 yards and two touchdowns.
Mixed results from Justin Fields
The Chicago Bears season did not get off the to start they hoped, with injuries across the offense setting back the progress in a pivotal year for the coaching staff. Andy Dalton initially won the Bears starting quarterback job, but it didn’t take long for Fields to take over.
Since he did take over, Fields has been inconsistent but has shown flashes of his potential. Entering Sunday’s game, Fields had completed 59.4 percent of his passes for 1,282 yards, four touchdowns and eight interceptions. He has also rushed 52 times for 288 yards and two touchdowns to go along with 29 sacks.
Fields struggled when initially taking over as the Bears quarterback, but the former Ohio State star has played well over the previous two weeks. On Halloween against the 49ers, he threw for 175 yards, one touchdown and one interception but added 103 rushing yards and another score on the ground. Two weeks ago, he threw for 291 yards and added 45 more in a close loss to the Steelers.
The Bears are currently 4-8 on the season, sitting in third place in the NFC North. While looking ahead to the NFL draft may be the mindset of most fans in this situation, Chicago traded away their 2021 first-round pick to move up to select Fields.