OCTOBER 22: Prior to the Bears’ Week 7 win, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports confirmed that IR is not a consideration in Fields’ case while noting that “multiple” missed weeks remains a distinct possibility. Of course, much will depend on the swelling in his right thumb and his ability to grip the ball in the coming days. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler adds that the 24-year-old is “determined” to return as soon as possible, which means suiting up in Week 8 is still in play at this point.
Bagent impressed in the victory, completing 21 of 29 passes for 162 yards and one touchdown. He added 24 yards on the ground and avoided any turnovers, which should boost the team’s confidence in him should he be needed moving forward. To no surprise, though, Eberflus confirmed in his post-game remarks that Fields will remain the unquestioned starter upon his return.
OCTOBER 21: As expected, Justin Fields has been ruled out for tomorrow’s game against the Raiders. Fortunately, it doesn’t sound like the Bears quarterback will miss much time. Per ESPN’s Courtney Cronin, there’s optimism “about the quarterback’s prognosis beyond Week 7.”
Further, coach Matt Eberflus said the Bears are “not on that path” when asked if Fields will require surgery and/or a stint on injured reserve (per Adam Jahns of The Athletic). Swelling in the quarterback’s injured thumb has gone down this past week, but Eberflus did caution that Fields may eventually need to go under the knife after the season. The coach also indicated that the training staff is especially focused on Field’s “grip strength,” and it doesn’t sound like the QB is at the necessary level to play this weekend.
“He’s improving,” Eberflus said (via ESPN). “The mobility’s getting better, the swelling went down, the grip strength is better. It’s trending in the right direction. He’ll be week to week and we’ll know more Monday.”
Undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent will earn the spot start on Sunday in place of Fields. The DII Shepherd product filled in for Fields last weekend against the Vikings, completing 10 of his 14 pass attempts for 83 yards and one interception. The rookie also had a pair of rushes for four yards and one touchdown. Bagent earned a number of accolades during his college career, including a pair of first-team DII All-American nods.
Fields has guided the Bears to a 1-5 record through six starts this season, perhaps leaving the door open to a QB competition if Bagent plays well. However, Eberflus quickly shut down that notion, declaring that Fields will return to the starting lineup when he’s healthy.
“Yeah, obviously Justin’s our starter and we’re working him back in there,” Eberflus said. “So we’ll see where it goes and as he progresses we’ll see where it is.”
The Bears went w/ an UDFA for a BU QB? Any question why they always lose? Poorly run team from the top.
Not all UDFA QBs are bad. Jim Hart carved out a 19 year career in the NFL. ROY in 1967 and a 4 time pro bowler in the mid 70s with the Cardinals.
You would roll w/ a UDFA D2 QB as your backup? You wouldn’t.
That’s as bad as Carolina not trading Burns for basically the first overall pick last year. Two 1st plus a 2nd would have netted them the #1 pick. A DE for their choice of QB. And everyone knew they wanted ‘their QB’. Bad management from both teams.
Aren’t you the guy that stated Brock Purdy was a bum. He’s 2nd in passer rating at the moment…lol.
I did & I was wrong so far. Both Purdy and Tom are/were studs. Who else can you name from the 7th rounds of the current generation that stand out?
Teams know that 95% of UDFA QBs aren’t going to amount to anything but they always bring a few to camp anyway. There’s no downside to doing that and you only have to get lucky once to solve your QB problem for a few years. Teams like the Bears who are historically terrible at drafting QBs have very little to lose by taking a flyer on someone like Bagent.
Bears have another losing season to go w/ their decisions. Aren’t you tired of all the losing?
Plenty of 5th round to UDFA players have solid careers. The majority of them need a few years to grow into the pro game. But to go into a season with UDFA as your primary BU QB is a terrible decision by management. Are you willing to give your current HC/GM another year? What have they proven so far? I would want them canned.
Who else was out there for a backup QB job? They have Nathan Peterson for crying out loud. The Bears BU UDFA QB outplayed Brian Hoyer, a longtime NFL journeyman QB.
Kurt Warner?
Does it really matter if he plays or not? Does anyone care anymore? The season is over. Play everybody who is less than 25 years old for the rest of the year and see who gets better and gets gone. Kevin Warren has some serious evaluations to make as he wasn’t here the last time they were made by the McCaskeys. And we all see how that’s turned out. Last year I was willing to give Eberflus the benefit of the doubt. This year he’s proven to be a liar about just about everything. From injuries ti hi coaches. No coach on this team is able to make the simplest game time adjustments to what the other team is doing, Proving they’re worthless. It’s a mess. Good luck Kev, You’ll need it.
Yeah, I just keep hearing ” With the #1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears select…” whenever the Bears or Panthers lose. My only ‘worry’ with Bagent is he does win and do so convincingly as that may drop their draft status… I think in any case, you could have Brady or Mahomes, or Williams (who looked silly vs ND’s pressure by the way) behind this Bear O line and they would be terrible. “Fix the lines”, that should be the mantra above Poles’ office door.
Williams may not be right for Chicago if they don’t offer any support. He has played behind a good line, in a good system, with good weapons for his entire college career. Chicago doesn’t offer any of that right now. Getsy possibly could offer a better system to a better QB, but that’s no guarantee and it may not be enough, even if it were true.
Someone like Spencer Rattler, who is used to playing with one receiver, no running game, and the worst offensive line in his conference might fit better until Chicago adds weapons. Of course, I am mostly joking. With that pick, Chicago should take the best player that they can. No matter who you put back there, though, it’s going to be tough sledding. Williams hasn’t had to work particularly hard on offense for most of his career. That doesn’t mean that he’ll be bad long term, but there’s always the chance that he looks like Young does this year while he takes his lumps.
I do wonder about the near sacrilegious idea of the Bears trading down again. The sheer number of good to decent picks that they could get could give them a chance to jump start the roster at multiple spots. There are a few QBs who look promising this year, for the first time in a while. I don’t think that it’s Williams or bust necessarily, but Chicago will have two excellent picks and probably will have the option to get him or whomever else they want with one anyway.
I’ll counter you with Stroud and his “support” in Houston. Not a good line, no real weapons, and a former DC rookie HC. If the Bears have the #1 pick, I doubt they the current staff will be there.
Okay, not every QB is Stroud. And Houston’s okay. They have a defense that is better than it looks and a decent run game. Chicago is in worse shape than they are.
Also, Williams’ line “being exposed” is kind of my point. He hasn’t had to deal with hardship long term like he is going to face in Chicago. Again, I’m saying that he’s bad or will be the wrong choice. If Chicago ends with the first overall pick, as we suspect that they will, it would probably be the expectation-for good reason-that they take Williams. But I do think that it will be a different world for him being on a bad team for the first time in his career, as Young is experiencing in Carolina right now.
The USC O-line was exposed by a decent ND defensive line. Williams is playing behind a line that’s just average.
At this point you can’t believe a word that comes out of Eberflus’ mouth. He lied about injuries all through camp, He lied about the DC, He lies about why they can’t adapt on the fly to the other team, Either on Offense or Defense. The way they ran that drive at the end of the first half when they had the Raiders on ice skates, My High School Coach could of done better and I’m 67 and he’s probably dead now. he’d still be better. So if by some miracle Bagent wins the next 3 games he should keep him in. But did he lie again? Stay tuned. That kid Bagent isn’t scared back there. Fields is a rabbit who hasn’t stepped up in the pocket since he’s been here.
AK185- The Bears should keep the highest pick and hope it’s in the top 2. The pick the Bears need to make is Marvin Harrison Jr. DJ Moore and Harrison would make a dynamic duo. Then they should trade Fields in the off season for a late 1 or a high 2 plus get back some of the lower picks they traded away. Then either sign a FA QB after they decide who the Coaches are and what offense they want to play. You won’t get anything for Fields at the deadline, A draft day deal makes way more sense. The question is can Poles make the other picks count? Because the jury is still out on this years early picks although they are looking better. I still think Stevenson leaves a lot to be desired and I’m still seething over passing up Schmitz. As far as Poles FA signings he’s missed on all of them I think. Foreman is solid and Edmunds is up and down so far but the rest? Egads. He has more UDFA’s making contributions ( Bagent, Sanborn) Than he does FA’s he spent big money on. Davis, Walker, Ngaouke and Edwards. I don’t remember hearing Edwards name much.
The only reason Fields would regain his starting position is to show case him for a trade.
I predict Bagent will look good against the Raiders
Bagent played DII football and was a UDFA. If he plays amazing, then yeah, keep him in when Fields is healthy. But short of that there’s no reason at all to play him over Fields, especially in a lost season. Fields doesn’t need to ‘regain’ anything.
I find you to be very dialed into the game. My question to you, would you roll with a UDFA from DII be your BU QB? I wouldn’t. I’d put him on the practice squad to develop but have someone w/ some experience helping your struggling 3rd year QB right?
Fields is 6 – 25 as a starter in his career. He has proven, that he isn’t the answer for the Bears. Bagent is getting his chance. Playing Peterman, makes absolutely no sense. Bagent should get two starts, to see what he can do.
Bagent has as many wins this year as Fields has now doesn’t he? Fields is a college system QB. May be a fine punt returner in the NFl. But he’s not an NFL QB. Athletic but doesn’t have the intangibles.
Is say eberflus is On that path to getting fired. But then again as a packers fan he can stay on for prolonged success for years to come for the pack attack
The Packers, for the first time in a while, seem to have a QB problem… I would think that Packers fans would be more concerned about that, but keep focusing on the Bears.
Way way to early in the season to come to that conclusion. Wait till the season ends then everybody can judge love and the packers if they have a problem at QB
Perhaps the Bears can swap Justin Fields for Connor Bedard.
Lemon- Hawks say Nope.
More games are lost through turnovers than are won with good QB play.
I think that’s probably true. I remember that wild 101 point game the Giants and Saints played in 2015. Both QBs had passer ratings over 130 and despite his 138.2 rating and 6 TD passes, Eli Manning got tagged with a loss.
Bears would be fools to bring Fields back in if Bagent is still playing like he did yesterday. Of course, Of course, that’s SOP for Chicago. 🙁
Bears used Peterman to throw a hail mary before halftime. Bagent doesn’t have NFL arm strength. Won’t take long for defenses to figure that out and take away his short passing game.