Chicago Bears News: Justin Fields expected to start on Sunday

Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus is expected to address the status of quarterback Justin Fields on Wednesday when he addresses reporters but NFL Network reported Ian Rapoport may have already spoiled the update.

Rapoport reported on Wednesday morning that Fields is indeed going to be the starting quarterback for the Bears on Sunday against the Detroit Lions.

Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields is expected to be the starting quarterback on Sunday against the Detroit Lions.

In case there was any debate that the Bears were going to play around with Fields and the dislocated right thumb injury that has forced him to miss the team’s past four games, the news on Wednesday confirms what fans should have known all along: When healthy, Fields is the starting quarterback of this team.

That is not to throw shade at undrafted rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent. What Bagent has done this season is remarkable both for himself as a player in the NFL and for the Bears. Bagent, when not turning the ball over, proved that he can execute a game plan and if the starting quarterback misses multiple games, he has the potential of going .500.

There also should be credit to the Bears’ coaching staff for not only identifying Bagent this off-season as a priority undrafted free agent but for also developing him to the point where he wasn’t completely lost when inserted as the team’s starting quarterback in place of an injured Fields.

But, let’s not overstate what Bagent has done, he still has his limitations as a starting quarterback and it will be an important moment when Fields steps onto the field against the Lions on Sunday.

Seven games remain on the Bears’ season and it would seem that the team is headed toward the direction of moving on from Fields this off-season. However, Sunday will be a chance for Fields to begin to change the narrative surrounding his future with the Bears.