The Carolina Panthers face the Chicago Bears in one of the most highly anticipated games in recent memory. Ok, not quite. But it’s the NFL, and there are still reasons to watch.
Primarily, the Bears have missed the dynamic playmaking abilities of QB Justin Fields in recent weeks. As Chicago’s signal-caller heals, questions of his availability for Thursday Night Football abound.
On a short week, will Chicago’s coaching staff get their starting QB back under center, and what steps does Fields have to take to get cleared to play by Thursday night?
Is Justin Fields Playing on Thursday Night Football?
For the second day in a row, Fields practiced on a limited basis. The Bears’ franchise signal-caller is working his way back from an injured thumb, and two limited practices to begin the week give the athletic phenom a chance to suit up Thursday night.
Chicago has another practice on Wednesday and must provide designations for game day at that juncture. We’ll know much more tomorrow than we do today and should have a clearer picture of whether the former Ohio State Buckeye will be on the field against the Panthers or not.
MORE: Chicago Bears Depth Chart
If forced to predict his availability, signs point to Fields suiting up for Chicago on Thursday night.
Bears head coach Matt Eberflus mentioned that it was too early to make a definitive statement on Fields’ availability. It sounds as if Fields wants to play, but the decision won’t entirely be up to him.
The first hurdle the former Ohio State legend has to clear is to be given the green light by the Bears’ medical staff. Chicago would likely air on the side of caution and protect their leader under center, but if the medical staff says Fields can go, that’s the first step in the right direction.
The second hurdle will be up to the signal-caller himself and whether he feels he can play or not. We saw a similar situation in Cleveland, where the medical staff cleared QB Deshaun Watson, but he didn’t feel ready to compete, and the Browns sat him.
The third and final hurdle that needs clearing is for Chicago’s coaching staff to evaluate Fields and how he throws the football. If Fields cannot grip the ball and release it properly, Chicago will hold him out. If he looks good going through the throwing motions, however, he’ll be back on the field.
Will Fields Be the Bears’ Starting QB in 2024?
Whether Fields will be the starting QB for the Bears beyond 2023 is the million-dollar question, or, in the case of potentially extending his contract, the multi-million dollar question. With the rise of the QB market skyrocketing with recent extensions for Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts, Justin Herbert, and Joe Burrow, extending Fields would be expensive.
Thursday night’s result can play a factor in whether Fields returns to Chicago in 2024 or not. If the Bears defeat the Panthers, Carolina remains in the hunt for the No. 1 overall selection, which they traded to Chicago in the Bryce Young trade.
If the Bears somehow have a chance to land Caleb Williams, though, how do they say no?
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