Chicago Bears fans have endured a lot so the excitement over rookie quarterback Justin Fields possibly getting his first start in Week 1 would be understandable sight unseen. But per reports from training camp, the 11th-overall pick has impressed with his steady improvement from day to day. So far, we’ve gotten word of just one bad performance out of him. And his best comes just ahead of the preseason opener.
It’s been enough to revive the calls for Fields to start Week 1 of the regular season. That game, mind you, is against the Los Angeles Rams.
The Chicago Bears Need a Healthy Offensive Line Before Justin Fields’ First Start
O-Line Woes
However, injuries to both projected starting offensive tackles, the top backup, and even fifth-round rookie Larry Borom, who has been a standout, should put those flames out once again.
Second-round pick Teven Jenkins hasn’t practiced since minicamp while dealing with a back issue. He has upgraded to the stationary bike in recent days though. That’s a problem for the projected protector of the quarterback’s blindside. Reports of back issues and concussions in college have come out since the draft. That has led some to suggest that as the reason Jenkins was available for the Bears.
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James Daniels is also dealing with a quad injury. He missed all but five games last season with a pectoral injury. Right tackle Germain Ifedi has an injured hip flexor.
Their depth chart shows former Denver Bronco Elijah Wilkinson and 2020 seventh-rounder LaChavious Simmons and Arlington Hambright as starters next to Cody Whitehair and 2020 surprise, Sam Mustipher.
There’s absolutely no way the Bears should be trotting Fields out behind that which is definitively worse on paper than even last season’s disappointing bunch. To be fair, the injuries aren’t limited to the offensive line. Allen Robinson is dealing with a hamstring issue and free-agent signee Marquise Goodwin has a foot contusion.
If you were waiting for Justin Fields’ breakout practice, this was it. Next test: Saturday’s game, when he can get hit. https://t.co/nUvzcLgDXY
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) August 12, 2021
On Both Sides
The defense is also getting in on the inaction as 2020 big-splash free agent Robert Quinn has been hampered by back issue.
For those of you keeping score at home, that’s 60 percent of the Bears starting lineup and half of their starting pass rush. What part of that sounds conducive to developing Fields as we all want them to?
Matt Nagy’s mantra has been patience all along. But with so many rave reports coming out about the kid — and the known product that is Andy Dalton — it’s not hard to imagine why the drumbeat continues. The game is even being billed as “Justin Fields versus Tua Tagovailoa” despite the former being listed as the backup.
He should still see plenty of time on the field, however, according to his head coach. The only question is how much of that will be spent with the starters to which Nagy said they’d wait to see how the first drive or so went.
Good luck quelling the calls for him to start if he shines in his first action.
Justin Fields’ First Start for Bears Will Have to Wait
This is ultimately Justin Fields’ job and his time will come. But that time doesn’t seem anywhere near Week 1 of the 2021-22 NFL season. Not until the starting offensive line is whole and playing as a unit or unless injury knocks both Dalton and Nick Foles out of commission. Anything less and the Bears should bide as much time as they can with their future.
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