Leash Watch: How short is Bears QB Andy Dalton’s leash heading into Week 2?

Following a so-so performance in the Bears’ Week 1 loss to the Rams, here’s where Andy Dalton’s leash stands heading into Week 2.

The Chicago Bears dropped their season opener 34-14 to the Los Angeles Rams, where quarterback Andy Dalton was far from the problem. But he also wasn’t the solution either, which could spell the beginning of the Justin Fields era much sooner than expected.

Dalton survived Week 1 with his health and starting job in tact. But there certainly appears to be an expiration date on his time as starter. It’s going to be sooner rather than later when Fields gets his chance to start in place of Dalton. We just don’t know when, exactly.

While we wait for Fields to get his starting chance, we decided to have some fun with our Andy Dalton Leash Watch, where we take a weekly look at how short — or long — Dalton’s leash is heading into a given week, until it’s inevitably pulled.

Whether it lasts for three weeks six weeks or longer remains to be seen. But we’ll be following along the entire way.

On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being the shortest and 10 the longest leash, here’s where Dalton’s leash stands heading into Week 2.

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Leash Watch: How short is Bears QB Andy Dalton’s leash heading into Week 1?

We’re debuting our Andy Dalton Leash Watch, where we’ll take a look at how short or long Dalton’s leash is for a given week with the Bears.

As the Chicago Bears prepare for the start of the 2021 NFL season, one thing has been a certainty since mid-March — Andy Dalton is the team’s starting quarterback heading into their Sunday Night Football showdown against the Los Angeles Rams.

Even though there’s certainly an argument that rookie Justin Fields did enough to prove he’s ready to start right out of the gate, just like three of his rookie draft class counterparts.

But we can also agree on one thing — it’s going to be sooner rather than later when Fields gets his chance to start in place of Dalton. We just don’t know when, exactly, although you could argue it could be as soon as the second half in Week 1.

While we wait for Fields to get his starting chance, we decided to have some fun with our Andy Dalton Leash Watch, where we take a weekly look at how short — or long — Dalton’s leash is heading into a given week, until it’s inevitably pulled.

Whether it lasts for six weeks, three weeks or one half of football remains to be seen. But we’ll be following along the entire way.

On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being the shortest and 10 the longest leash, here’s where Dalton’s leash stands heading into Week 1.

Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports