Justin Fields enters for Bears after Andy Dalton knee injury

Andy Dalton suffered a knee injury versus the Cincinnati Bengals, offering an opening for the official NFL debut of Bears rookie quarterback Justin Fields. 

Chicago Bears quarterback Andy Dalton barely made it past the first quarter in a revenge game against his former team before suffering a knee injury that has him on the sideline.

In his place entered highly-anticipated rookie quarterback Justin Fields, taking the helm as the Bears lead the Bengals in the second quarter.

The NFL world is already buzzing with Dalton’s injury being the opening for the official beginning of the Justin Fields Era in Chicago.

Chicago Bears QB Justin Fields enters game after Andy Dalton knee injury

A team infamous for consistently lacking a quality quarterback, the Bears selected the dynamic Justin Fields with the 11th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Fields left Ohio State to enter the NFL Draft considered the second-best quarterback option, but controversy surrounding his work ethic caused some NFL analysts to debate his draft stock. While Fields consistently proved he is a truly talented dual-threat quarterback, the Bears kept him high on the draft board and chose to develop him for the future of their franchise.

Starting behind Dalton, the Bears organization sought to develop Fields into an experienced franchise quarterback, a tactic that has worked with greats like Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes.

Fields was the fourth of five top quarterbacks taken, following Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson and Trey Lance. Fields was chosen four picks ahead of New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones.

If Fields continues to start for Chicago, he will be the fourth rookie quarterback from 2021’s Top QB prospects to start for his team: Trey Lance remains behind Jimmy Garoppolo for the San Francisco 49ers.

Of the three rookie quarterbacks that hold the franchise on their backs, all of them encountered losses in Week 1. In Week 2, Wilson and Jones face each other at Meadowlands with Jones an easy favorite — especially after Wilson’s first two passes resulted in interceptions.

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With Fields in the backfield, it appears the Bears are leaning on the run game, with Fields currently having one attempt and zero completions to his name.