The Chicago Bears opened training camp on July 27 along with the rest of the NFL and have already answered their biggest question. At this time last season, there were a ton of questions surrounding a lame-duck regime. This season there are still questions about the new regime. They have had an uncomfortable number of arrests for rookie general manager Ryan Poles, as one example.
But they have already given themselves a headstart over their predecessors with one singular decision that they will see mirrored by their Week 1 opponent.
Bears’ Biggest Training Camp Question Being Answered a Head Start
Setting the Field
Second-year Bears quarterback Justin Fields enters his sophomore campaign as the unquestioned starter. That makes sense for the team that traded up to take him 11th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. That investment did not translate into them putting Fields in the best position to win in his first season.
Fields has spoken of how different this camp is for him and the team compared to last year under the last regime.
“It means a lot to me, just me being the quarterback of our team, I’m the leader. These guys need to see how hard I work, what I do on and off the field, and I need these guys to follow me, and just play hard. As long as I show them, which I think they do know, how hard I work and what I do to prepare and stuff like that, it’s going to follow with everyone behind me.” (h/t Alex Shapiro/NBC Sports Chicago)
There have been questions about Poles’ commitment to Fields.
A pair of last-minute offensive line signings show that it wasn’t all smoke at the least. And that the Bears know they need more on the optimistic end of the spectrum.
Michael Schofield Workout Sends Strong Message on State of Bears OL
They are still relying on bargain-brand wide receivers until the group proves otherwise outside of Darnell Mooney. But Fields’ confidence and what the Bears hope is an improved offensive line could mean more of a leap than expected.
“As long as the offensive line gives him some time, he’ll do OK this year,” Fields’ former teammate, Jason Peters, said, “Once he gets that offensive line set, that guy’s going to be special because he can throw, he can run, he can make all the plays he needs to make.”
The Bears will certainly need Fields to play up to the best of his ability this coming season. Not only to win games. But also to determine if he is their quarterback of the future.
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The Future is Now
Like the Bears, the San Francisco 49ers have decided on their quarterback opting to begin the season with Trey Lance under center. Lance appeared in six games last season drawing two starts and finishing with a 1-1 record for the 10-7 49ers. San Francisco drafted Lance with the third-overall selection last year. But he wound up sitting behind Jimmy Garoppolo.
Lance did not play when the two teams met in Week 8 of last season, a 33-22 49ers victory.
That could level the playing field somewhat in the Bears’ favor if Lance struggles due to inexperience. If they can get the new campaign and regime started off on the right foot with a win, it could set a more positive tone than has been prevalent to this point in the offseason.
