Is Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields playing in Week 1 of the preseason?

The Chicago Bears will open their 2023 Pre-Season schedule on Saturday when the team hosts the Tennessee Titans.

The focus will be on the Bears’ starting quarterback Justin Fields. Fields is entering his third year in the NFL, though, it is the all-important second year in offensive coordinator Luke Getsy’s system.

The continuity from last season to this season is the reason why many fans are firmly expecting Fields to have a breakout season in the sense of solidifying his status as not only the franchise quarterback for the Bears moving forward but in the top-tier of quarterbacks in the NFL.

Usually, the quarterbacks that are in the top tier in the NFL do not play during the Pre-Season but that will not be the case with Fields this season.

Is Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields playing in Week 1 of the preseason?

Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus told reporters on Wednesday that Fields will indeed be starting for the Bears on Saturday in their Pre-Season Opener against the Titans. There was a debate among the Bears’ coaching staff about whether or not Fields would play this Pre-Season but Getsy wants his starting quarterback out there.

The expectation is for Fields and the first-team offense to play between 7-to-15 snaps but that could depend on the outcome of their first series. If Fields and the Bears’ offense orchestrate a scoring drive in their first series, then it would seem unlikely that the team would play them for a second series.

For what it’s worth, Fields started all three pre-season games for the Bears last season and it was not until the third game, against the Cleveland Browns, that the quarterback had success. Outside of consistent struggles from Fields and the first-team offense, it would seem unlikely that the Bears’ starting quarterback will appear in each of the three pre-season games this year.