In one corner, the Chicago Bears are still uncertain whether Justin Fields will return for Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers.
Bears Head Coach Matt Nagy told reporters it would be an “ongoing discussion” when it comes to Fields’ availability, per The Athletic’ Kevin Fishbain. Obviously, the Bears shouldn’t want to put him in harm’s way if his ribs injury is that serious. But the expectation was that Fields would play against the Cardinals. That (obviously) didn’t happen. So … what gives?
As a reminder, it’s been 15 days since Fields went down with a ribs injury that caused him to miss most of the second half of the Bears’ loss to the Ravens. Since then, Fields has missed the games against the Lions and Cardinals that have since followed. There has been a belief that Fields’ injury wouldn’t require an IR stint, which Nagy insists remains the case. But after missing two games, the idea that “Fields should return shortly” that was floating around on Thanksgiving can be thrown into a trash bin. Fields’ status is as clear as mud, which is par for the course when it comes to anything Nagy has his hands in these days.
And in another corner, the Bears have Andy Dalton — who is starting only because of Fields’ injury nursing an issue of his own:
Matt Nagy says they are still evaluating Andy Dalton's left hand.
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) December 6, 2021
In a callback to a now infamous Jay Cutler injury, Dalton banged up his hand while making a tackle after an interception. Talk about compounding problems on top of each other. Dalton finished the game against the Cardinals, but the injury could throw his status for Sunday’s contest against the Packers for a loop.
So, if Fields can’t give it a go (and neither can Dalton) this leaves the Bears with this guy:
A fired up Nick Foles talks about Frank Reich, Carson Wentz, what he wants in a trade, and more.
Foles: "The version of me right now is much better than the version that played in the Super Bowl … Put that through your mind."
This is worth the watch…pic.twitter.com/zVpsluax2l
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) August 2, 2021
Wouldn’t it be so Bears-y to start a quarterback who clearly would rather be anywhere else in a prime-time matchup against their fiercest rival? It sure as heck would be fitting, all things considered.