The Chicago Bears got their first real taste of Justin Fields on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. It certainly wasn’t what anybody expected. Nobody thought it would involve Andy Dalton suffering a knee injury that knocked him out of the game. Faced with limited practice time to prepare, the rookie was forced to make the best of a tough situation. All things considered? It was a typical rookie performance.
Fields had his down moments. A strip-sack when he chose to abandon the pocket on a scramble and went right into the arms of a pass rusher. Then there was the ill-advised interception where he completely missed linebacker Logan Wilson bailed into coverage. A classic move that has caught rookies by surprise more than once over the years. Even so, there were also several moments that showcased how good Fields can be.
Start with the defining play of the game.
After just watched a 20-3 lead shrink to 20-17 in a matter of minutes, the Bears faced 3rd and 9 with the prospect of going three-and-out. Fields took matters into his own hands, evading a sack and scrambling for a first down that helped put the game away. He also had a number of impressive throws including a 35-yard bomb that would’ve been a touchdown if Allen Robinson hadn’t dropped it. What the rookie showed certainly had the Bears locker room buzzing. Ageless veteran Jason Peters sounds intrigued by him.
He isn’t alone. Defensive end Bilal Nichols expressed similar sentiments. He is fascinated by Fields’ obvious talent, particularly his accuracy. In his mind, there is no doubt the young quarterback is going to be a “dude” in this league. He even admitted the 11th overall pick has tried hard to torch the defense in practice as the scout team quarterback.
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Justin Fields is anxious to press onward
Listening to him speak after Sunday’s win, it was obvious he was frustrated. He thought he could’ve played better. That is another sign of his competitive streak. He doesn’t like having bad games. Statistically, that is what happened, but a closer look reveals it wasn’t all on him. That said, it doesn’t matter. At least not in his eyes. Things must be cleaned up. Improvements made. Those same mistakes will not be repeated.
This is part of what makes Justin Fields so exciting. His talent, self-confidence, and insatiable work ethic are what made him a star at Ohio State. If Matt Nagy does everything possible to support him, then it feels like only a matter of time before he starts to blossom in the NFL as well. His teammates seem plenty anxious to watch this thing develop.
Lord knows the fans are as well.
Everything begins next Sunday in Cleveland. Rather fitting that Fields gets his first start in Ohio against a Super Bowl contender. There is never any easing into these things. Can the QB handle a strong pass rush, play under control, and score some points? It is going to be an educational afternoon either way.