WATCH: Justin Field throws impressive touchdown pass against Titans
Justin Fields took the field as Chicago’s starter in their final preseason game on Saturday night, and once again, the rookie was impressive.
Fields played the first half and went 7-for-10 for 54 yards and a touchdown plus two rushes for 13 yards. But the highlight of the half was this perfectly placed touchdown pass to Jesper Horsted.
Fields was pulled from the game for the second half, and Nick Foles took over.
The Bears second touchdown came on a pick six when Tre Roberson intercepted the Titans’ Matt Barkley in the second quarter.
Field wraps up a great preseason
With the performance against the Titans, the rookie out of Ohio State finished preseason play 30-for-49 with 276 yards and two touchdowns plus 92 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Despite his success thus far, Andy Dalton remains head coach Matt Nagy’s starter. Dalton did not play Saturday.
Fields has been labeled the future of the Bears franchise, but he is quick to defend Andy Dalton who has recently gotten some hate from Chicago fans. Last week against the Bills, Bears fans chanted Fields’ name while Dalton was playing. Fields was not a fan of the situation.
“I noticed it, of course. The fans are awesome, but they also have to realize Andy is a human being, too,” Fields said following the game. “Andy is out there on the field right now, so I really think it’s kind of disrespectful to Andy, them cheering my name like that.
“They have to trust in coach to make sure he’s making the right decisions, and cheer Andy on. That’s not helping Andy play better, them cheering my name. That’s not doing that.”
Fields has said Dalton has been a great mentor, and he has nothing but respect for the current starter who will remain in place until Fields forces the Bears’ hand.
“Andy Dalton [will be the starter] essentially until there’s no choice in the building but to make Justin Fields the starter,” said NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. “And if that sounds vague that’s basically what it is with any rookie quarterback or any quarterback competition.”
Dalton will take the field when the Bears open against the Rams on Sept. 12, but Justin Fields’ preseason performance definitely helped him make the argument that he should get the reins sooner rather than later should Dalton not live up to expectations.