Latest Update Shows Again Justin Fields Can’t Catch A Break
Justin Fields had no business making the strides he did this year. We need to be honest. Looking at the Chicago Bears‘ offensive roster as it’s constructed, the young quarterback should’ve struggled. Instead, he’s a hot choice among many to be a potential Pro Bowl alternate. In his last eight games, he’s thrown 11 touchdowns, run for seven more, and only turned the ball over six times. All of this is with a supporting cast that won’t feature a single Pro Bowler. That is the epitome of a quarterback carrying his offense.
Sadly he may have to do that even more on Sunday against the NFC-leading Philadelphia Eagles. Fields has already lost his best running back (Khalil Herbert) and best wide receiver (Darnell Mooney) to extended injuries. He also lost his starting center (Lucas Patrick) weeks ago. Fields has navigated a tough situation with a cavalcade of backups. That situation might be about to get worse. The Bears’ Thursday injury report was not encouraging. Wide receiver Chase Claypool, who suffered a knee injury in the loss to Green Bay two weeks ago, did not practice for the second straight day.
Usually when that happens, it means he is unlikely to play Sunday. That means Fields will be down his two most capable wide receivers.
Justin Fields has some rotten luck.
Not only will he be without Mooney and likely Claypool, but he’ll have to take on the #1 pass defense in the NFL. Philadelphia has 49 sacks this season and 15 interceptions. They’ve been able to make life hell for almost every opposing quarterback they play. His one saving grace is the Eagles have struggled to stop the run this season. That is especially true when playing mobile quarterbacks. Kyler Murray, Kenny Pickett, Ryan Tannehill, and Daniel Jones all had some success tucking the ball against them.
That might be the only way Justin Fields makes this game interesting. Yet even that will prove difficult without the threat of Herbert running the ball. David Montgomery is a good player, but he hasn’t been the same threat Herbert was before he got hurt. Put simply, Fields is being put in a tough spot again. He has no receivers, no defense, and an incomplete rushing attack. Yet it’s a safe assumption some people will find a way to blame him when the Bears lose by 14-21 points.