Justin Fields didn’t have to feel much pressure going into rookie minicamps. It’s not like his NFL career was going to be decided across those three days. People would’ve understood if he had a few hiccups here and there as he got acclimated to the new surroundings. Instead, by most accounts, he looked sharp throughout the entire process. Few balls hit the ground and he conducted himself like an alpha on the field.
While the Chicago Bears coaches weren’t going to get carried away with any praise publicly, it seems Fields’ conduct was everything they could’ve hoped for. NFL insider Adam Caplan spoke during a session on Twitch stating the rookie quarterback sent the exact right message Matt Nagy and his staff wanted to hear. They love that he isn’t planning to just sit back and let Andy Dalton have the starting job without a fight.
“Off to a great start. The Bears are very happy with the way he came in there and how competitive he was.”
Fields was diplomatic but straightforward in his comments.
He respects Coach Nagy and is willing to go along with the plan the organization has for him. At the same time, he believes it is his responsibility to fight for that starting job. Every player on the roster should have that mentality. This is something Fields has exhibited for years. When it became clear to him Georgia wasn’t going to give him a chance to start as a sophomore, he transferred to Ohio State. When it seemed like the Big Ten might not play in 2020? He engineered a massive movement to make it happen.
This guy isn’t prone to sitting back and waiting for things to unfold. He’ll do whatever is necessary to achieve the results he wants. A man intent on achieving his own goals. This is exactly who the Bears wanted in their quarterback room. Somebody who intends to put the organization on his back and carry them to success.
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Justin Fields knows what is expected of him
The Bears have a plan in place. They want him to sit and learn behind a proven veteran like Dalton. It’s not a bad idea. Such a plan has worked several times in the past. Patrick Mahomes is the most recent example. Even so, it isn’t hard to read into the real feeling. This coaching staff would love nothing better than for the rookie to just outright steal the job from the outset, showing everybody he is ready to play now.
How fired up would that get Bears fans? While that might seem unfair to Dalton, the reality is he controls his own destiny. Justin Fields is willing to abide by the current plan, but it falls to the veteran quarterback to ensure it stays that way. That means performing well in training camp and not looking too shaky in the preseason. Otherwise, he might not even make it as far as Mike Glennon did in 2017.
All things considered?
This should make for an exciting summer. Fans can’t wait for OTAs to start at the beginning of June with mandatory minicamps soon to follow. Training camp figures to be even crazier. Fields will be the talk of everybody for months to come. All anybody wants to know is how long before he finally sees action. The Bears likely will love every second of it, knowing such hype is going to translate into dollars.
