Justin Fields Threw Serious Darts In First Soldier Field Appearance

The Chicago Bears have stuck by their plan with the quarterbacks from the start. Andy Dalton runs with the #1 offense. Justin Fields with the #2. There has been no deviation from it. Head coach Matt Nagy is set on this path unless something unexpected happens. All things considered? It probably has served Fields well. He's developed a strong connection with his fellow #2 teammates and that is starting to show in practice. On Monday, he had probably the best session yet in a Bears uniform. One that featured his best throw caught on film to date. A scramble to his left followed by a rocket to tight end Jesse James over the middle. Could he stack another good showing on top of that? By most accounts, that is exactly what he did. In the first padded practice of training camp, Fields stepped foot on Soldier Field for the first time during the annual Family Fest. There he gave fans a series of glimpses of what he can be.

Full video credits to Greg Braggs Jr. and the Barroom Network

This is a good demonstration of Fields' ability to control his velocity. He knows he has to fit the ball in there and it will require significant mustard. However, he manages to balance that with precise accuracy too, making sure his receiver was the only one who could get it.

This is another such example. Fields has a tough throw. He has to get it between two defenders knowing his receiver is going to get hit. So he places the ball to where the receiver turns back enough that his left shoulder absorbs most of the impact.

Comparing Justin Fields to Patrick Mahomes is not fair. They aren't the same type of player. Except when you watch the Bears rookie make a casual sidearm throw like this, it's difficult not to see similarities. He's done this multiple times in camp already.

This was easily the throw of the afternoon for any Bears quarterback. It demonstrates how strong Fields' arm actually is. He flicks the ball with contemptuous ease on a direct line over the cornerback to the outstretched arms of his receiver for a 45-yard gain. If Adams keeps his balance there, it's a touchdown. This is the kind of throw top quarterbacks make.

Justin Fields isn't the big concern. It's his protection

The quarterbacks actually have looked sharp for the most part in practices thus far. It is the offensive line that has a lot of people starting to worry. They've been bullied for the most part by the Bears defensive front through the first week of practice. That shouldn't be a huge surprise. Already they were down both starting tackles in Teven Jenkins (back tightness) and Germain Ifedi (hip flexor). Now it seems backup tackle Elijah Wilkinson has joined them.

Not ideal.

If anything, this development will make the Bears even more reluctant to play Fields than they were already. The last thing they want to do is trot their prized QB of the future out there behind a makeshift offensive line. Dalton is more experienced at handling such issues. Better for him to take those hits until the team can find a way to fix them.