Injuries have piled high on the Chicago Bears over the past few weeks. Several starters are on Injured Reserve, while others are missing practice this week. Justin Fields is among them. The quarterback left last Sunday's game against Minnesota with a dislocated thumb. Though he hoped to return, he was unable to grip a football. So, the Bears deactivated him. X-rays were negative for any fractures. The question would be how much damage an MRI would reveal. Either way, it is expected he will miss Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Thankfully, there is some good news on this front. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network provided an update. While he is unlikely to play this week, Fields will not undergo surgery to repair the thumb. This indicates the damage isn't as severe as feared. If he'd needed surgery, he likely would've missed six weeks. This development means Fields and the doctors think he can recover in a shorter timeframe. It comes down to when his ability to grip the football returns.
Justin Fields can't afford to miss time.
He'll say it is because the team is in danger of watching another season go down the drain. He wants to help his guys win. That part is true, but it's not the only part. Fields isn't stupid. He knows the Bears are drifting closer and closer to making changes at quarterback. Ryan Poles wanted to see progress from him this year. Outside of his two great games against Denver and Washington, Fields hasn't shown it. He needs more positive moments this season if he's going to save his job. He can't do that from the sideline.
Coming back quickly from a dislocated thumb carries risks, especially with the amount of hits Justin Fields takes every week. He seems willing to take the chance. All he can do is hope Tyson Bagent can somehow keep the Bears afloat with a victory over the Raiders. That would enable him to return against the Chargers in Los Angeles. That would be quite an opportunity to build his case for sticking around.
