Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields has missed the last three games with a dislocated right thumb, which was expected to keep him out at least that long ... and maybe longer.
Backup Tyson Bagent has been a fun story for Bears fans over the last three weeks. Fan reactions since his first start in Week 7 against the Raiders have gone from 'The Great Undrafted Hope' to 'he's a backup at best.'
In other words, he's officially a Bears quarterback, even if just a backup.
For as fun as Bagent has been, the 2023 season can only be deemed a success (despite the win-loss record) if we get a clear answer to this team's most pressing question: Is Justin Fields the quarterback of the future?
There are only eight games left for GM Ryan Poles to figure it out. And one of them is on a short week: this week's Thursday night game against the Carolina Panthers.
Last week, Fields was deemed week-to-week by coach Matt Eberflus. This week, he's been upgraded to day-to-day. On Tuesday's injury report, Fields was listed as a limited participant.
Baby steps.
#Bears Tuesday Injury Report: pic.twitter.com/OGge04gVnA
— Bears Communications (@BearsPR) November 7, 2023
Justin Fields logging a limited session is the good news. Tremaine Edmunds (LB) and Nate Davis (RG) pulling a 'DNP' is the bad news. I doubt either will play on Thursday night.
It'd be great if the Chicago Bears could be full strength and do their part to push the Panthers one loss closer to the No. 1 pick, but what really matters is getting QB1 back on the field. Let's be honest: this game will test even the most diehard fan by the third quarter if Fields isn't dropping back and launching rockets to DJ Moore or taking off for chunk gains with his legs.
Bears fans need to see it. They need to see him. They need to feel good about going into an offseason with two first-round picks and no quarterback questions.
It all comes down to Justin Fields having a strong finish to 2023, which he'll hopefully jumpstart on Thursday night.