While Bears rookie quarterback Justin Fields made his return to practice this week after suffering cracked ribs in a Week 11 loss to the Ravens, it sounds like the team is playing it safe with their rookie.
Fields has been ruled doubtful for Sunday’s game against the Cardinals. Bears head coach Matt Nagy said Fields has been “making good progress” but he hasn’t been medically cleared.
That means it’ll be veteran Andy Dalton making his second straight start after last week’s Thanksgiving win over the Lions. Nick Foles will serve as the backup quarterback. Fields has been limited all week in practice.
#Bears QB Andy Dalton will start Sunday.
Justin Fields is "making good progress" but hasn't been medically cleared.— Patrick Finley (@patrickfinley) December 3, 2021
Nagy reiterated that Fields will be the starter once healthy. But right now, it’s about getting Fields right before he steps back out on the field.
“Now the biggest thing for him is gonna be being able to understand, probably more than anything, the pain management — how things feel,” Nagy said.
It’s probably best to err on the side of caution with Fields, who did suffer cracked ribs, and with the Bears facing a Cardinals pass rush that’s done a great job getting after the quarterback.
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