Justin Fields is in a favorable position, but the Bears require some time to assess his status against the Lions.
The Chicago Bears have completed their second mini-bye period, yet they remain uncertain about the status of quarterback Justin Fields for their upcoming game against the Detroit Lions on Sunday.
Fields suffered a dislocated right thumb during the Bears' Week 6 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, sidelining him for the past four games. He returned to practice in a limited capacity on November 3. While he is making progress, he has not yet received medical clearance to play, and he sat out the Bears' 16-13 victory over the Carolina Panthers last Thursday.
The coaching staff is closely monitoring Fields' ability to make all necessary throws with his healing right thumb once he is medically cleared.
Head coach Matt Eberflus mentioned, "We're evaluating that as we go. I think they look good. I think he's in a good spot. Again, we'll know exactly where we're gonna be probably more on Wednesday. I don't really have any more updates other than that, but in terms of him throwing the ball, it looks to be good."
Quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko outlined several factors that will be considered before Fields' return to action, including his comfort level, pain tolerance, rhythm, smoothness of delivery, and ball velocity.
Fields has experimented with different forms of support for his healing thumb, including wearing a glove, cutting the thumb out of the glove, and using wraps and tape.
Eberflus did not confirm whether Fields had received medical clearance during the team's three-day weekend break. The Bears conducted a light practice focusing on individual drills on Monday. Eberflus emphasized the need to see Fields participate in full-team drills before determining his availability for Sunday's game.
"We just need more time," Eberflus explained. "We need teamwork. We need that, and we'll eventually get there. We're just not there right now."
The Bears have maintained a 2-2 record in Fields' absence, with undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent stepping in as quarterback. The coaching staff has commended Bagent for his ability to absorb and apply information effectively. While he displayed promise, Fields' expected return would provide the Bears' offense with a dynamic dimension it currently lacks.
Eberflus expressed optimism about Fields' potential impact on the offense, emphasizing his ability to stretch the field vertically and horizontally, contribute to the running game, and excel in various passing situations.
This season, the Bears' primary objective is to assess Fields' potential as a franchise quarterback. Fields had a challenging start to the season but showed improvement in consecutive games against the Denver Broncos and Washington Commanders before his injury.
His return and ability to stay healthy for the remaining seven games will provide crucial information for the Bears as they make a significant decision regarding their quarterback situation in the offseason. However, Fields must first receive medical clearance and approval from the coaching staff. While things are progressing positively, there are still hurdles to overcome before he can take the field in Detroit on Sunday.
| POLL | ||
14 NOVEMBRE | 43 ANSWERS Justin Fields is in a favorable position, but the Bears require some time to assess his status against the Lions. Will Justin Fields play with the Bears next season? | ||
| yes | 29 | 67.4 % |
| No | 14 | 32.6 % |
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