Will Justin Fields start for Bears in Week 2? Matt Nagy explains QB plans moving forward

Justin Fields did not simply take the sphere on “Sunday Night time Soccer” in his NFL debut. The primary-round rookie was additionally the one Bears quarterback to score a touchdown against the Rams, capping Chicago’s longest drive of the night with a read-option run. Now, the query is: What occurs subsequent? Andy Dalton was serviceable however unspectacular within the Bears’ 20-point loss to Los Angeles, so is it attainable Fields will get the decision in Week 2? Might coach Matt Nagy truly flip the keys over to the first-year signal-caller for Chicago’s residence opener in opposition to the Bengals?

As of now, that does not appear seemingly. Addressing reporters after Sunday night time’s Week 1 loss, Nagy mentioned the Bears entered the sport with a selected plan for Fields and executed that plan; the previous Ohio State standout threw two passes and ran as soon as as situational aid for Dalton. However Nagy does not essentially appear pressured to place Fields on the sphere considerably extra, not to mention on a full-time foundation.

 “He did an ideal job,” Nagy said. He is a weapon for us. He clearly made a helluva run … The occasions that he bought in there, he did nicely … (and) we’ll continue to keep growing with that stuff.”

Nagy added that sure components — just like the Bears trailing by a lot and/or being compelled to run the two-minute offense — seemingly restricted Fields’ snaps in opposition to the Rams. That, together with the actual fact Chicago is utilizing Fields in any state of affairs, would appear to counsel the workers believes the rookie QB is prepared for real-game motion. Why else would the rookie be getting extra snaps within the occasion the Bears had been nearer to pulling off the upset in opposition to Los Angeles on Sunday night time?

Nonetheless, for all the explanations — justified or not — that Dalton entered 2021 because the designated QB1, all indications are that the longtime Bengals veteran will stay beneath middle going into Week 2, with Fields seemingly sprinkled in as soon as once more as a complementary piece. The extra snaps Fields takes, nevertheless, the extra Nagy and Co. will seemingly be confronted with the truth that their backup QB is not simply the staff’s larger long-term funding at QB, but additionally the extra gifted QB of the current.

Within the meantime, Fields is content material placing the staff and its QB choices first.

“Nonetheless my position performs out,” he mentioned after the sport, “I’ll be right here for the staff. No matter this staff and Coach Nagy want me to do to assist us win, I’ll do.”

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