NEWSLETTER
Ask and you shall receive.
Kinda:
Bears’ HC Matt Nagy said this morning that Justin Fields will start Saturday vs. Titans and play roughly two quarters.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 24, 2021
Justin Fields will start Saturday’s preseason finale against the Titans on Saturday. Meanwhile, Andy Dalton will sit because he is the Week 1 starter.
Fields starting is cool, neat, fun, and awesome on a bunch of different levels. For one, he’ll get an opportunity to simulate some of the things that come with being a starter without the pressure that comes with playing in a game of consequence. That’s not inconsequential. And more importantly, he’s getting an opportunity to play with the starting offensive line. Because, if you’re going to throw Fields out into extended action, you might as well get him some reps with starting center Sam Mustipher and opportunities to work behind the best offensive line your offense can throw out on the field.
But there’s a “but” … and it’s gonna nag me for a hot minute.
None of the Bears’ other starters will play. No Allen Robinson II or Darnell Mooney out wide. And David Montgomery won’t be lining up behind Fields in the backfield. It won’t be as if Fields will be without talent at his side. Damien Willams is a perfectly cromulent running back option as a rusher, as well as receiver out of the backfield. Jimmy Graham can hold it down as TE2. And Rodney Adams will get an opportunity to be thrown onto the roster with Fields slinging the pill. Even still … it’s a bummer not to see Fields get a chance to link up with Mooney, Robinson, and Montgomery in a game setting. But that simply isn’t part of the Fields development plan this week, for better or worse.
Bears Head Coach Matt Nagy is essentially treating Saturday’s game in Nashville like teams would do with the fourth preseason game of years past. In other words, expect Fields to get two quarters worth of action. And then brace yourselves for the Nick Foles Trade Showcase Variety Hour.
For more from Nagy, you can check out the video below:
Coach Nagy is live with the media.@Hyundai | #BearsCamp https://t.co/P3J5Ar0JdV
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) August 24, 2021
