Justin Fields has been a major talking point around the league given his improved play in recent weeks. His health is now a question mark, however, in the wake of a shoulder injury he suffered Sunday.
The former first-round pick dislocated his left shoulder, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). When speaking to the media Monday, head coach Matt Eberflus said that Fields is considered day-to-day (Twitter link via ESPN’s Courtney Cronin). Rather alarmingly, however, he didn’t rule out the possibility that the injury will be season-ending for the Ohio State product.
The 23-year-old was carted off the field to undergo evaluation, and later underwent an X-ray and received an IV (Twitter link via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune). Fields mentioned after the game that he was dealing with a significant amount of pain.
More clarity on the matter will likely come on Wednesday when an official designation will be required upon Fields’ participation (or lack thereof) in practice. Especially this early in the week, Eberflus’ remarks could simply be a means of keeping the availability of the 2021 first-rounder in the air as the team prepares to face the Jets in Week 12.
Any absence, or even limitation, for Fields would be crippling to the Bears’ offense, though. After an uninspiring rookie season, the former No. 11 pick has become far more consistent in recent games in particular. While Chicago’s run-heavy scheme has limited Fields to just one game over 200 passing yards, his passer rating of 86.2 represents a sharp improvement from 2021. Most notably, of course, he has been hugely productive with his legs, totaling 834 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.
Especially if this injury proves serious, the rate at which Fields has run (122 carries through the first 11 games of the season) will become even more of a talking point as the Bears’ scheme under new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy continues to evolve. If Fields is unable to suit up, the team will turn to veteran Trevor Siemian in his place, after he signed a two-year deal this offseason.
Was only a matter of time until he got hurt. Great athlete. Prolific runner. Not an NFL QB.
I’m sure you said he was terrible 5 weeks ago as well. He could end up being great but not with that horrendous offensive line.
He’s still a terrible QB.
Ridiculous.
I for one am shocked that Big Jon on the internet thinks a black QB with mobility is a prolific athlete but not a QB. What an original, nuanced, and well thought-out opinion.
Big Jon is entitled to his opinion just as much as you Tom. In fact, it was your original, nuanced, and well thought-out opinion that brought the topic of race into the comment section. How nuanced of you Tom.
So six years after closing the book on the Jay Cutler era the Bears have a QB whose rating is one point better than what Cutler managed in Chicago. How could fans not be excited about that?
Considering all the justified protection the NFL has tried to give QBs, if you consistently make more rushes than your own RBs expect to get hit like a RB
This double standard is flawed. He is still a QB and should be treated the same as all other QBs in the league. So because he is good with his legs, has a terrible OL, and lost his best RB this year he should get hit harder than Mahomes, Jackson, etc? As of now he has taken way too many big hits that would be personal fouls or roughing the passer on any other QB. Getsy’s play calling has been suspect, like doing a designed QB run on first and second down with under 2 minutes to play and 75 yards to drive.
If you are not going to slide and run like a rb meaning juke and trying to break tackles you are going to get hit.
I didn’t imply a double standard. Once you pass the line of scrimmage you cannot make a forward pass, so you’re no longer a QB.
If there’s a double standard at all then it’s holding Defenses to one standard when tackling WR/RB/TE and another when a QB has crossed the line of scrimmage
What a matchup this game potentially will feature. Jets backup vs Bears backup. Oof. Bring on the running backs!
Fields can’t read a defense , that is why he needs to run majority of the time.
He has had some real problems reading coverage and making the throws. Looks like the Bears will roll w/ him and try to fix that o-line. He may not be back this year.