Head coach Matt Nagy has made it clear for weeks now. The Chicago Bears have a plan for Justin Fields. It’s something they believe in. Something they trust is the best for the development of their promising 1st round pick. That plan will involve sitting on the bench to start the 2021 season. Veteran Andy Dalton will hold the starting job. His experience and efficiency should be able to keep the offense functional while Fields works to grasp the offense.

Plenty of Bears fans don’t like that idea. They feel the rookie can best learn the NFL game on the field facing the live bullets. It’s hard to tell how much of that they believe and how much of those feelings are driven by the simple desire to see Fields play as soon as possible. One thing is for sure. Plenty of people aren’t buying the idea Nagy will sit the rookie. At least not for long. Kevin Seifert of ESPN is one of them. How confident is he?

He predicted Fields would end up the 2021 Offensive Rookie of the Year.

“Seifert: Justin Fields, QB, Bears. I think he’s going to get on the field early, either by beating out Andy Dalton in training camp or replacing him early in the season, and there is a chance for real impact right away. After four years of using kid gloves with Mitchell Trubisky, this offense is well versed in making things easy for a young quarterback. All the young quarterback needs to do is hit the open receivers. Fields will.”

This would be quite an accomplishment. Not just because it would mean Fields did it without the benefit of starting a full season. He’d also be just the second Bears player in franchise history to win that honor. Since the Rookie of the Year awards were first instituted back in 1967, Chicago has seen three defensive players win it. Wally Chambers, Mark Carrier, and Brian Urlacher. Only one offensive guy managed that feat. Running back Anthony Thomas in 2001.

So Fields would be the second Bears player ever to do it. The first in 20 years. Being a quarterback on top of that would only make it all the more special. Current Las Vegas betting odds have #1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence as the favorite to win Rookie of the Year at +300. However, Fields is right behind him at +600. So Seifert isn’t the only one who thinks he’ll be the starter sooner than later.

Justin Fields is off to a good start

Rookie minicamps concluded on the 16th. Early returns were Fields looked the part. Big, athletic, strong arm, and accurate. He took snaps under center with ease and handled the huddle with a commanding presence. He even took time to correct a receiver who’d run a route wrong. It’s clear he is assimilating himself into the system with clockwork precision. It will be fascinating to see how he handles the eventual jump in competition when veterans and rookies start practicing together.

It will also be interesting to see how Dalton responds when he finally starts practicing. This is somewhat uncharted territory for him. He was always the unquestioned starter in Cincinnati. Then last year he was the clear backup to Dak Prescott. This is the first time he’s been a sort of “bridge” quarterback. Somebody who will start but is clearly being a seat-warmer for the next guy.

Can he handle that kind of pressure?

The Bears think so. He’s no stranger to handling tough situations. Last year was proof enough of that. This is a big opportunity for him. If he can play well and keep Justin Fields on the bench? He will likely have a starting job waiting for him elsewhere in 2022. If he goes the Mike Glennon route though? Then fans will get their wish, seeing Fields in action by the beginning of October.