After more than two seasons of watching Justin Fields battle inconsistency, fans weren’t sure how to react when the Chicago Bears quarterback lit up Denver and Washington in the space of five days. He ended up with 612 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and only one interception. It was by far the best stretch of his NFL career. Some took it as a possible sign that the light had finally gone on for Fields. Things have slowed down, and he’s playing with rhythm and confidence. Others believe it’s merely a mirage from playing two terrible defenses.
It is a fair concern after what has happened over the past several months. Fields doesn’t have the benefit of the doubt. Not yet. However, the evidence is starting to grow. Even NFL Films helped provide proof of this. Greg Cosell is one of the most respected tape analysts in the business. He did a breakdown of Fields’ performance against Washington on Thursday Night Football. What he saw was a quarterback playing with much more confidence, poise, and field vision.
All things that were absent a month ago.
Justin Fields is clearing the final hurdle to his ascent.
He’s already a dangerous runner. That much was proven last season. People needed to see whether he could take the final steps to become a legitimate pocket passer. Josh Allen did it. Jalen Hurts did it. Hopes were high that Fields was finally in a position to do the same. His offensive line was retooled in the off-season. D.J. Moore was added at wide receiver. He had help. Now, it was a matter of using it to become the quarterback he should be. Three games into the season, and it was all crumbling. Fields kept taking too many sacks, failed to hit open receivers, and looked lost way too often.
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Eyes had already begun drifting towards the 2024 draft and the idea of selecting USC star Caleb Williams. It appears Justin Fields may have gotten the message. He came out firing against Denver, played well, and carried that over into Washington. He hasn’t looked like a talented athlete doing special things with his legs. Fields was making plays from the pocket. Everything from his eyes to his feet was finally in sync. Maybe it’s a mirage, but if so, it’s a pretty convincing one. Improvements like that are hard to fake.
The Bears should have their evidence, one way or the other, within the next two months.
