Bears Insider Has Update On Futures Of Justin Fields And Matt Eberflus

The Chicago Bears don't feel like a team ready to tank this season. Yes, they're 2-6. Playoff hopes are all but dead. However, it's apparent GM Ryan Poles is committed to keep pushing. He wants this roster to get used to winning. That is why he traded for a star pass rusher Montez Sweat and retained Jaylon Johnson. An improved defense can help with that goal. Besides, the Carolina Panthers should keep at least one of the Bears' 1st round picks in the top-5. The big question many have is what the future holds for Justin Fields and Matt Eberflus.

Neither the quarterback nor the head coach are on solid ground at the moment. Fields missed games with injuries for the third season in a row. He continues to take too many sacks and hasn't improved enough in his ability to play with rhythm and timing. Many feel he still deserves patience, especially after the strong performances against Denver and Washington. However, Jeff Hughes of Da Bears Blog didn't mince words. Knowing the connections he has, this recent statement is hard to ignore.

As for Eberflus, his tenure in Chicago has been a complete mess. He's 5-20 in his first 25 games, by far the worst record of any Bears coach in history. His defense continues to look wholly outmatched against good opponents. Worse still, two members of his coaching staff have now been dismissed from the team for reasons involving Human Resources, which is never a good thing. Hughes believes Poles remains a firm ally to the head coach, but the odds of Eberflus staying are nearing the point of no return.

Justin Fields and Matt Eberflus still have time, but not much.

There are nine games left in the season. Fields will miss the next one in New Orleans because of his lingering thumb injury. So he has at most eight games left. He and Eberflus both need to start putting together some wins. They have to prove they can get this organization pointing up. They have some opportunities coming up. After next week, they go home to play the 1-6 Panthers. Then, two weeks later, they visit a Minnesota Vikings team that just lost Kirk Cousins for the season. After the bye, three of their final five games will be against Arizona, Atlanta, and Green Bay. All are mediocre-to-bad teams.

If things go right, the Bears should be able to win at least three of those five games. Reaching a 6-11 record might be enough to give Eberflus a reprieve. As for Justin Fields, his fate is tied to his production. He has to continue showing improvement as a passer. Don't forget Poles didn't draft him. If he ends up with a top-two pick next April, most are convinced he will take a quarterback. Things are not trending in the right direction for either man. If ever there was a time to bring out their best, this is it.