LAKE FOREST, IL– After missing two consecutive games due to an ankle injury, the Chicago Bears are hopeful that rookie quarterback Justin FIelds is able to return to the starting lineup in week 18 for the Bears’ regular season finale against the Minnesota Vikings.
Fields, who’s recorded as a starter is currently 2-8, has had a rookie season filled with ups and downs. The Bears haven’t been good enough on offense around Fields to give the 11th overall pick a chance at winning enough games. Likewise, while Fields has had his fair share of rookie mistakes, he’s thrown just seven touchdowns to 10 interceptions in 2021 while completing just 58.9 percent of his passes. Fields’ bright moments have been apparent at times in 2021, as have rookie mistakes.
“We’ll get him in here the next couple days and see where he’s at and then be able to get him going for Wednesday practice,” Nagy said via the Bears official YouTube channel. “And again, it’s always going to come down to his health. It’s always going to come down to medically where he’s at, where we feel he’s at, and then we go play ball.”
When the Minnesota Vikings played the Chicago Bears on December 20th, Fields went 26-for-39 with 285 yards, and one touchdown, completing 66.67 percent of his passes. The Bears reached the redzone on five separate occasions but failed to significantly capitalize, scoring a touchdown just once towards the end of the game.
When Fields does play on Sunday, the Bears week 15 film against Minnesota should serve as a basis for his own preparation. Minnesota did throw a number of exotic blitz packages at Fields and while the Bears rookie adjusted well, week 18 should provide the Bears rookie with another chance to put up a strong performance and end the regular season on a high note.