Are Bears making a big mistake with preseason plan for Justin Fields?

Justin Fields will plan to see playing time in the Bears’ first preseason game, even if it means risking injury along the way.

It would be an understatement to assume the Chicago Bears aren’t in a “win now” approach entering the 2023 NFL season. The Bears have had a rather dreadful last 28 seasons since winning the 1985 Super Bowl against the New England Patriots in New Orleans, La., only appearing in one Super Bowl and failing to reach the NFC Championship for over a decade.

Despite the inconsistent play, the Bears are still banking on former Ohio State great, Justin Fields, to lead them back to the postseason. Fields enters his third season in Chicago and has still yet to prove himself as a franchise quarterback, minus flashes of occasional brilliance with his elusive running ability out of the pocket.

Although the Bears finished with the league’s worst records at 3-14 in 2022, Fields managed to keep his team in games and rush for 2,242 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Bears: Matt Eberflus wants Justin Fields to see the field in the preseason

Entering the Bears’ first preseason game against the Tennessee Titans at Soldier Field a week from Saturday, second-year coach Matt Eberflus said starters getting into the game is a possibility.

"“We actually visited about that this morning,” Eberflus told the Chicago Sun-Times and other local media after Tuesday’s practice at Halas Hall. “It will be some play time — a little bit in there. But [how much] I’m not sure. We’ll have to continue to discuss that.”"

Although Eberflus didn’t directly mention Fields, it leads to the assumption that Fields will see the field. Quite frankly, it isn’t the greatest idea.

Though reps are important, the likelihood of injury is still a factor, which can negatively damper the team long-term. Injuries have benefited teams in the past, with one of the best examples being Trent Green’s season-ending injury after being hit low in 1999, resulting in Kurt Warner starting for the then-St. Louis Rams, eventually winning the Super Bowl.

Of course, every case isn’t exactly like that, but with Fields pegged as the quarterback of the present and future in Chicago, keeping him healthy should be priority No. 1.

The Bears begin the regular season with two of their first three games on the road, which will see them host Green Bay with Jordan Love at full command of the quarterback position, before traveling to Tampa Bay and Kansas City.

Kickoff against the Packers is set for 4:25 p.m. ET Sept. 10 and the Bears currently sit as two-and-a-half-point favorites.