As the Chicago Bears gear up for a pivotal NFC North clash against the Minnesota Vikings tonight, concerns are rife about whether their star quarterback Justin Fields will be taking to the field. Fields has been under the weather for the past week, causing him to miss crucial practice sessions.
The Bears, presently holding a 4-7 record, are under immense pressure to secure a win to sustain their playoff aspirations. Nonetheless, achieving this without Fields, who has been besieged by an ailment, could be a daunting task.
Since being picked 11th overall by the Bears in 2021, Fields has demonstrated moments of extraordinary talent in his second season. He has racked up 1,370 yards and 12 touchdowns, with six interceptions to his name. He also contributed 341 yards and a touchdown with his feet.
The young quarterback has been instrumental in the Bears’ triumphs against the Washington Football Team and the Denver Broncos, and has developed a strong understanding with new receiver DJ Moore, acquired from the Carolina Panthers. Yet, Fields has also had his fair share of difficulties with maintaining consistency, precision, and decision-making, not to mention the alarming frequency of sacks he has endured.
Fields has been sacked 26 times in 10 outings, the third-highest number in the NFL. Along with this, he has encountered injuries, missing a match due to a sprained ankle and soldiering on through a rib contusion.
However, the last week saw Fields facing another obstacle when he contracted a flu-like sickness, which caused him to miss practice on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Although the Bears have not officially announced his exclusion from tonight’s match, he is mentioned as doubtful in the injury report, indicating a 75% probability of his absence.
If Fields is unable to participate, the Bears will likely call upon seasoned backup Andy Dalton, who started earlier this season when Fields was injured. Dalton has a substantial amount of experience, with 10 seasons at the Cincinnati Bengals and one with the Dallas Cowboys under his belt before his move to the Bears this year.
Despite not possessing Fields’ mobility or arm strength, Dalton is a wily veteran who is well-versed in conducting an offence and sidestepping errors. The Bears are also expected to lean on their running game, spearheaded by David Montgomery and D’Onta Foreman, who have amassed 1,012 yards and seven touchdowns between them.
While Fields’ current illness is not deemed serious or long-term, it does amplify concerns regarding his health and resilience moving forward. Fields has already had to sit out one match and play through two injuries this season, and has borne the brunt of a considerable number of hits behind a faltering offensive line.
Furthermore, Fields has been exposed to COVID-19 twice this year. Consequently, there are concerns about the risks Fields might be taking by playing through discomfort and illness, especially in a season that appears to be a write-off for the Bears.
Whether Fields will play tonight remains uncertain due to his illness, but he is projected to make a swift recovery and reclaim his position as the starting quarterback for the remainder of the season. The Bears are hopeful that he will manage to stay fit and continue his journey towards becoming the star quarterback they envisaged when they selected him in the draft.
