Justin Fields is “doubtful” for this Sunday and that could have far-reaching consequences.
Fields was diagnosed with a dislocated thumb after leaving the Bears’ 19-13 loss to the Vikings in the third quarter.
Bears coach Matt Eberflus said on Monday that Fields is unlikely to play Sunday and there is no timetable for his return.
“It’s really going to come down to grip strength,” Eberflus said about when Fields will be able to play again.
In the short term, it is another blow for a 1-5 Bears team that is headed nowhere.
Undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent will likely take over as starter with Nathan Peterman stepping into the backup role.
Bagent played college football at Division II Shepherd University (W.V.) and played admirably on Sunday after Fields went out.
A fumble on his second possession was returned for a touchdown, but he bounced back to lead the Bears on a touchdown drive that ended with Bagent sneaking it in from the 1-yard line.
An ugly deep ball that was intercepted by the Vikings’ Byron Murphy ended the Bears’ threat to take the lead and solidified another loss.
The Bears future is far more intriguing, however.
Most have viewed the end of the season as Fields’ chance to solidify himself as the long-term starter for the franchise.
The former Ohio State star has shown glimpses of greatness — he took a leap in the middle of last season as he started to use his feet more.
Fields, 24, was coming off consecutive encouraging games, throwing for 617 yards and eight touchdowns against the Commanders and Broncos.
But Fields took a step back again against Minnesota, appearing indecisive throughout the game and only completing 6 of 10 passes for 58 yards and an interception in two-plus quarters before the injury.
If the season ended right now, the Bears would have the top two picks in the 2024 NFL Draft because they own the pick for the winless Panthers.
So, there is a strong possibility the Bears will have their choice of quarterbacks at the top of the draft with USC’s Caleb Williams and North Carolina’s Drake Maye the top two prospects.
Some particularly view Williams as a potentially generational prospect, though a three-interception dud in Saturday night’s 48-20 loss to Notre Dame put a tiny dent in the hype.
It would give GM Ryan Poles a chance to draft his own quarterback as Fields was drafted by the Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy regime.
The quicker Fields returns, though, the more opportunities he will have to prove that he is deserving of a chance to lead franchise and the two high picks should be used to build around him.
But it is a task that got more challenging with the injury.
