The Chicago Bears have done nothing to dissuade anybody from the hype surrounding Justin Fields. They traded up for the kid for a reason. They genuinely feel he has superstar potential. Somebody who can fill that franchise quarterback void. One that has sat empty in Chicago for literal decades. It is hard to fault fans for wanting to see him in action as soon as possible. Yet head coach Matt Nagy has a plan.

One he saw work to perfection in Kansas City. The idea is to sit the talented youngster behind a solid veteran where he can learn for a year. Then when he’s had time to learn the offense and adjust to the NFL speed, it will be time to start him. That is what happened with Patrick Mahomes. With Andy Dalton playing the role of Alex Smith, Fields could take the same path. Some though aren’t patient enough to be happy with that approach.

This might explain the recent reveal.

According to Albert Breer of the MMQB, the coaching staff has been thrilled with Fields thus far. He’s been everything they were expecting and more. Not just physically gifted but bringing a presence and confidence that is rare for a rookie. Better still, he’s apparently not doing anything to stir up trouble. He does what he is told, asks questions, and works hard. He’ll let his play do the talking. That may explain why the Bears are preparing to give him the platform.

3) I think, for the time being, the Bears’ quarterback situation is very status quo. And that’s not to say Justin Fields hasn’t come as advertised—he has. The staff there has seen strong command, confidence and the quiet leadership style he carried himself with at Ohio State. He’s also shown himself to be very self-aware and coachable—in the words of one staffer, “playing the rookie role very well.”…

…That said, the Bears are going to get Fields a lot of work in preseason games, so he’ll have the opportunity to show who he is as a player. And it’s obvious what the idea here is—for Dalton to play great, the Bears to contend, and Fields to keep stacking good days in the background.

This would make plenty of sense from a multitude of perspectives. It gets Fields out in front of Bears fans right away. Something they’re quite hungry for. Beyond that though, it’s a golden opportunity to get him some live game reps. Andy Dalton turns 34 this year. He has started many games in the NFL. He won’t need a ton of preseason reps. Nick Foles is the third-string QB. The odds of him seeing action are remote. So he won’t need much work either. That leaves Fields.

Justin Fields could get essential work this August

Sure it won’t be against the cream of the NFL crop, but it will still be game action on pro fields against pro-coached defenses. Being able to get his feet wet with no consequences is something the Bears are smart to take advantage of. The Chiefs did it to an extent in 2017 with Mahomes. He threw 54 passes that preseason, more than anybody else by a considerable margin. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Fields tops that number despite there being just three preseason games this year.

This might make some people uncomfortable. Are the Bears really prepared to risk their prized pick getting injured in meaningless games? The reality is there is no telling when or where a player will get hurt. Football is a violent game. Justin Fields needs experience. If they aren’t willing to give it to him in the regular season, then the preseason makes the most sense.

The rewards outweigh the risks.

Fields will be that much more prepared when his time comes if he’s able to see some live action. Play in front of a Soldier Field crowd. Learn how to execute some of that Nagy offense in different situations. At the same time, fans will hopefully get a taste of things to come. They’ll see all the tools he has at his disposal. His first touchdown pass figures to get plenty of responses.