Justin Fields' Makes Concerning Comments on Bears Offense This Offseason
By Peter Dewey
Chicago Bears fans have shaken off the Matt Nagy era, and now they are hoping second-year quarterback Justin Fields will be able to thrive in a new offense under head coach Matt Eberflus.
Fields, the team's first-round pick in 2021, has praised his new coaching staff earlier this offseason, but it's been a struggle as the team starts to prepare for the 2022 campaign on the offensive side of the ball.
"We got a lot of new people in. Just creating a foundation for years to come," Fields said. "That’s really the most exciting thing about it. It’s been awesome working with the new coaches (and) working with my new teammates."
The Bears let No. 1 receiver Allen Robinson walk in free agency, leaving Darnell Mooney, Byron Pringle, Cole Kmet and Velus Jones Jr. as the top weapons for Fields in Year 2. With several new faces and a new scheme, Fields had a bit of a concerning message when asked if he's ready for the season to start.
“Uh, no,” Fields said Tuesday. “I’m not ready for the season to start.
“I’m the type of guy that would like to know I’m prepared. So, right now, I’m just being honest. We’re not ready to play a game right now. And when that time comes, we will be ready. So, right now, no — not ready to play a game.”
It's still early in the offseason, but this isn't exactly the message Bears fans were hoping to hear in minicamp. Chicago had one of the worst offenses in the NFL in 2021, ranking 27th in yards per play and points scored.
Eberflus doesn't seem too concerned with the team's early offensive struggles this offseason, but bettors need to beware before blindly trusting Fields and company in 2022. Removing Nagy was a step in the right direction, but the Bears are lacking talent on the offensive side of the ball.
“How do you respond? Bounce back,” Eberflus said. “We’re all gonna get knocked down, right? Every one of us. We all get knocked down in life. What do you do? Bounce back. Just get up, next play.
“That’s what I want to see from all of our players, and that’s important. We’re all gonna have adversity. You’ve gotta step up and go to the next play. That’s what I want to see from [Fields] and the rest of the team, too.”
Right now, WynnBET Sportsbook has the Bears tied with the Detroit Lions at +1000 odds to win the NFC North. Chicago is just +10000 to win the Super Bowl. While a Super Bowl or even a playoff berth seems lofty, the Bears and their fans won't love that they're projected to finish in last in the division.
Fields' development is going to be the key for Chicago in 2022. If he can take a major leap from his rookie season, the Bears may be able to get away with having less talent on the offensive side of the ball. However, if he struggles, it's going to be really interesting how the team views him going forward as the franchise's leader.
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