Report: Bears to Start Justin Fields

Justin Fields is expected to return to the field and start for the Bears against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, according to a report by NFL media.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday the time for Fields to rest and rehab his injured right thumb is over and he is expected to start.

Fields has missed four starts while Tyson Bagent played quarterback, and also missed a little less than half of the game Oct. 15 against the Minnesota Vikings. He was injured in the Vikings game and did not go on injured reserve.

Fields had been on a roll before his injury. He had four touchdown passes in each of the two previous starts. He went out in the Vikings game with the Bears trailing 12-6 and they lost 19-13.

His passer rating on the season is a career high of 91.6 and he has completed a career-high 61.7% (100 of 162) for 1,201 yards with 11 TDs and six interceptions.

The Bears won half the starts Bagent made as he went 94 of 143 for 859 yards and three touchdowns with six interceptions. His passer rating was 71.4

The full field opens up for the Bears on offense with Fields' arm and running. He also could benefit wide receiver DJ Moore, as well. Since Moore had 230 receiving yards against Washington, Moore hasn't been over 58 yards and Bagent played in those five games since then.

Coach Matt Eberflus on Monday admitted they'll be changing the offense slightly to use Fields' skills more.

"You know we're going to tailor it a little bit for Justin and to fit his style," Eberflus said on Monday. "What does that mean? It means, OK, were going to being back to the quarterback run and the keepers. We're going to bring back the different things that we've done and that were effective."

The Bears also had a far greater rate of sacks when Fields was starting over Bagent. With Bagent, they had the lowest sack percentage in the league at 3.4% but Fields has the 32nd lowest sack percentage at 12.9%.

The final seven games might have little meaning for the Bears in terms of the standings but they definitely can influence whether the team uses one of first-round picks in the 2024 draft for a quarterback.

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