Justin Fields has been cleared for take-off.
Again:
Coach Nagy announced that Justin Fields has been medically cleared and will start on Sunday.
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) December 8, 2021
Bears Head Coach Matt Nagy told reporters Fields haas been given medical clearance from team doctors, and will return to his post as QB1 for Sunday’s game against the Packers. Fields went down with cracked ribs during Chicago’s Week 11 loss to Baltimore, and hasn’t played since. There was a belief Fields was set to return for the team’s Week 13 showdown against the Cardinals last Sunday. But after practicing with limitations all week in the lead-up to the game, the Bears opted to sit Fields out and let Dalton start. Sure, that was disastrous. But now that Fields is medically in the clear, at least we’ll get the treat of seeing Fields in prime-time on SNF.
As for who will serve as Fields’ backup, that will be something to be determined later in the week. Andy Dalton was dealing with a hand injury that came up last Sunday, which could leave Nick Foles — who hasn’t taken one snap this season — as the last available QB2 option.
But discussing backup QB options is for the birds. Justin Fields is back. And while what’s left of the 2021 Bears’ season doesn’t offer much, any time we get to see Fields sling it should count as a net positive.