rumors about Justin Fields: Kevin Warren of the Bears wants to choose a quarterback without emotion
As per Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Chicago Bears have not decided what will happen to Justin Fields in the Windy City in the long run.
In an interview with Colin Cowherd on The Herd, Russini stated that Kevin Warren, the team president, is “really trying to take that time to take a look at all of it, the quarterback, the coaching staff, and really try to make an unemotional decision.”
Many are wondering if the Bears will part ways with Fields and select USC standout Caleb Williams instead, as the team is expected to select first overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Halfway through the 2022 season, there was hope that Fields had turned the corner. He was now a more effective passer as well as a dynamic runner. After all, perhaps the Bears had found their franchise quarterback.
Rather, Fields’ progress on the field is regressing as a result of a thumb injury that has limited him to just eight starts. With 1,587 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions in his repertoire, his 44.5 QBR is good for 23rd in the league.
The third-year signal-caller is practically a living Rorschach test, which is the problem.
Fields exploited two weak defenses in his two starts prior to his injury, amassing 617 passing yards and eight touchdowns against the Denver Broncos and Washington Commanders. After coming back, he ran for 104 yards and threw for 169 yards as Chicago came dangerously close to defeating the Detroit Lions.
Are those performances a fair representation of Fields’ actual skill and worth? Or do his unsteady start to the season and Monday’s 12–10 victory over the Minnesota Vikings serve as a better indicator?
In Week 12, the Bears used wide receiver screen after wide receiver screen, and Fields completed 37 passes for 217 yards. In the final minute, he led Chicago on the drive that won the game, but a superior quarterback might have had the team up and running already.
Even so, it begged the question of whether Fields’ coaching is merely failing him. Maybe a scheme that played to his strengths and was more daring would suit him better.
While some may perceive a player as hopeless, others may see a 24-year-old who still has unrealized potential.
If the Bears choose to adopt a realistic approach, selecting their first pick, should they ultimately come down to a relatively simple choice.
It would be more expensive to pass on Williams than to give up on Fields and watch him succeed somewhere else. The window of opportunity to assemble the team around Williams’ rookie contract would be reset, and there might not be much of a quality difference between Fields and Williams.
Despite their claims to the contrary, it is indisputable that Warren and Chicago’s front office have already decided which way to go.
