2023-11-15 21:45:00
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — The Chicago Bears will have Justin Fields back at quarterback Sunday against the Detroit Lions for a stretch of games that could be critical to his future with the team.
Coach Matt Eberflus announced the move following four missed starts by Fields because of a right dislocated thumb.
“Our plan is to start him on Sunday,” Eberflus said. “He continues to progress this week. Returning to practice today is going to be a big part of the evaluation.”
A decision on Fields’ fifth-year contract option is due next spring and the Bears can use this seven-week stretch to help decide if they want to go forward with Fields or possibly use one of their two first-round draft picks on a quarterback.
“I think seven weeks is enough time to show consistency and being the high performer that we expect him to be,” Eberflus said. “I know he’s had some good performances along this year, certainly the last few have been solid.
“We expect consistency out of all our positions.”
Fields threw four touchdown passes in back-to-back starts against the Denver Broncos and Washington Commanders, then was struggling in a 19-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings when he suffered the thumb injury. He has a career-best passer rating of 91.6 to go with 11 touchdown passes and six interceptions, while completing a career-best 61.7% of passes (100 of 162).
He started the season struggling for three games in losses to Green Bay, Tampa Bay and Kansas City before improving in his starts in a win over the Commanders and loss to the Broncos.
Fields said the thumb isn’t entirely 100% but is good enough. His passing won’t be affected.
“I mean I wouldn’t be playing if it was going to affect that,” he said. “So I don’t see that as a problem come Sunday.”
Fields felt ready to return before last Thursday’s Carolina game but was held out.
“There was real consideration,” he said. “I wanted to play. But the head trainer said it was best for my future long term just to wait it out one more week, especially coming off a short week and stuff like that.
“And if it would have gotten hit, it probably would have postponed it another 2-3 weeks.”
Adding Fields back after undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent had run the team for 4 1/2 games gives the Bears more of a running threat from the QB position.
“I think you have some different options,” Eberflus said. “You have some different options there, different movement passes that you might run that you wouldn’t run with a different quarterback in there certainly opens up your package a bit.”
The time away might have actually helped his game in some ways, Fields said.
“Being on the sidelines, I feel like you look at the game with a different perspective and I was just kind of seeing the game from a different view.”
Fields isn’t necessarily treating the final seven games as do-or-die for his career. His goal is more confined.
“Just go out there and win games,” he said. “I’m not here to prove anything to anybody. I’m playing for my teammates, I’m playing for the coaches, and that’s it.
“Everything else will take care of itself. So I’m not necessarily trying to prove anything to anybody.”
The Bears are also making offensive line changes with players returning to health. Right guard Nate Davis is back from an ankle injury and replacement Teven Jenkins is moving back to his starting spot at left guard. As a result, long-time starting guard and center Cody Whitehair will be benched. Lucas Patrick will remain at center.
Whitehair has played and started in 117 games since coming to the Bears in the second round of the 2016 draft. He made the Pro Bowl in 2018 at center.
“Those are always hard, when you get back to full strength and Cody has been a true pro,” Eberflus said. “Obviously a captain here for many years, had a great, long career and is still going to continue to help us as we go.
“That’s our starting lineup for this week and you know things can happen like that and he’s back into the mix at center, guard wherever it might be. We’re fortunate that we have the flexibility to do that — to move Teven to both sides; to have Cody play guard or center.
Eberflus also said fullback Khari Blasingame is returning from a concussion.
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