With reports out of offseason workouts that Bears rookie quarterback Justin Fields is not only impressing but outperforming veteran Andy Dalton, it’s fair to wonder if Fields has a legitimate chance to be Chicago’s starter come Week 1.
Earlier this offseason, Matt Nagy reiterated that Dalton was the team’s starting quarterback, and that Fields was the back-up, where the plan is to let him develop behind Dalton. But a report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler indicated that the Bears won’t hold Fields back, and that he’ll have a chance to win the starting job in training camp.
ESPN insider Louis Riddick, who goes way back with Nagy during their time in Philadelphia, shared his thoughts about whether Fields should start right away as a rookie.
While Riddick noted that “it’s inevitable” that Fields will start at sometime this season, he believes that Nagy won’t rush things given the Fields selection has Nagy’s fingerprints all over it.
“I think he will take it slow, I think he will be very methodical as far as bringing this young man along because he knows his career in Chicago — and quite frankly how people view him as a head coach and an offensive developer really depends on it,” Riddick said on ESPN’s Get Up. “So I think he’ll be methodical about it, but it’s inevitable. The kid’s talent is undeniable, and he’s going to have to sit on his hands not to put him in there right away. Although, I know he’s trying to wait and play this thing very patiently.”
And while Riddick makes a good point about Nagy’s job and reputation being on the line with Fields, you can’t force a situation to pan out a certain way. If Fields continues to outplay Dalton in training camp — and proves that he’s the best option at quarterback — Nagy shouldn’t sit him just because he doesn’t want to rush him. It’s not rushing him if he’s ready.
Still, where things stand, the plan is for Dalton to serve as the team’s starter, which means he’ll continue to take first-team reps while Fields works with the second team.
And while Nagy would like Fields to sit for a bit and develop, the expectation is that Fields is going to challenge for the starting job and make things difficult on Nagy.
https://youtu.be/9gC33DpJTtE
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