The Chicago Bears have been practicing with the Indianapolis Colts this week ahead of the two teams' game on Saturday night in Indianapolis. On Thursday night, head coach Matt Eberflus announced that third-year quarterback Justin Fields will sit out the game against the Colts after having a good couple of practices this week. Eberflus' decision is controversial, as there are pros and cons to having Fields miss live preseason game reps, along with the same decision leading to issues for the previous Bears' head coach.
Matt Eberflus' Decision To Sit Fields Is Questionable Given What Transpired In 2022
One of the main concerns instantly raised with Eberflus' decision to sit Fields for the second preseason game of the year is because of Fields' struggles last season. Chicago's second-year quarterback played poorly to start the 2022 season, as he had issues learning, adapting, and executing new offensive coordinator, Luke Getsy's offensive scheme. Fields was slow going through his progressions and decision-making on pass plays, which led to him only having two passing touchdowns, 471 passing yards, and four interceptions in the first four games of the 2022 season.
Fields' early-season issues were resolved once Getsy adjusted the offensive playbook and began to call more plays that the quarterback was comfortable with during the preseason games. The Bears' quarterback had faster, quick read throws and utilized his mobility as more bootleg and moving pocket play designs implemented. Last season, Fields played in all three preseason games, including the first half of the final game against the Cleveland Browns, where he fired three touchdown passes.
Eberflus choosing to sit Fields against the Colts is also questionable, given the lack of live reps the starting offense, with several new pieces, has had. The Bears' quarterback is playing with an almost entirely new cast of wide receivers, running backs, and tight ends in 2023. Other than wide receiver Darnell Mooney, tight end Cole Kmet, and running back Khalil Herbert, Fields will be mostly throwing to a new set of pass-catchers and running backs.
DJ Moore, Robert Tonyan, D'Onta Foreman, Marcedes Lewis, Tyler Scott, and Roschon Johnson are all players added this offseason that will likely contribute to the Bears' starting offense in 2023. Although wide receiver Chase Claypool was acquired halfway through the 2022 season, Fields and him battled to become familiar with one another as the duo only connected on ten passes in four games. Claypool had issues adapting to the new offense mid-season and can use the live preseason reps this year to build better familiarity with his quarterback.
Although Fields impressed in the team's first preseason game last Saturday against the Titans as he recorded two touchdown passes and 129 passing yards on just three throws, including a 62-yard touchdown on a screen pass to Moore. Despite Chicago's quarterback completing all three attempted throws, he didn't record a single throw beyond the line of scrimmage and had no air yards. Although the no air yards stat isn't a concerning issue, it would still be nice to see Fields get a few downfield passing-play attempts, especially with Moore and Claypool, to ensure they have their timing down heading into the regular season.
Matt Eberflus Can't Make The Same Mistake Matt Nagy Made With Mitchell Trubisky
It is unclear if Eberflus is deciding to sit Fields and other starters for just this game against the Colts or will have them sit out next week's game against the Buffalo Bills too. If so, this could be a massive mistake on the head coach's part, given what transpired with the former head coach and his quarterback less than five years ago. Former Bears' head coach Matt Nagy was notoriously known for not playing his starters during preseason games.
During his four seasons as Bears' head coach, Nagy only played his offensive starters consistently during the preseason in 2021, the same year his job was in jeopardy. In his first season as Chicago's head coach in 2018, he shocked fans and the media by deciding to sit the entire starting offense, including second-year quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, heading into the third preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Although Chicago's offense had a standout day against Kansas City, many in the media and fanbase questioned if it was wise to sit a second-year quarterback and not allow him to receive live game reps to become better acquainted with a brand-new offensive scheme.
Trubisky struggled in his first three games of the 2018 regular season as although he led the Bear's offense on touchdown drives at the start of each of the first two games, the young quarterback looked lost for the most part. Chicago's offense only generated four touchdowns in the first three games of the 2018 season, as their second-year quarterback didn't look entirely comfortable in the Bears' offense until the fourth game of the season.
A year later, Nagy again chose to sit Trubisky, except this time it was for the entire preseason as the quarterback never attempted a single pass. Although many believed it was because the head coach had faith that his quarterback had mastered the offensive system, it was actually because the opposite occurred. Nagy held Trubisky out of the 2019 preseason games because he believed his quarterback had significant issues executing the offensive scheme. Chicago's head coach wanted to avoid exposing these issues to opposing defenses and provide game film heading into the regular season.
When the 2019 regular season arrived, Trubisky and the offense had significant issues, as the offense only scored one touchdown during the team's first two games. Nagy and his quarterback were criticized immensely throughout 2019 as there were issues with the offensive play-calling and at the quarterback position. Trubisky, during his time with the former Kansas City Chief offensive coordinator as his head coach from 2018 to 2020, only attempted passes in two of eight preseason games.
Eberflus must be mindful of giving his quarterback time off in preseason games, as this is a vital year for Fields, given his subpar play as a passer last season. Although Chicago's quarterback doesn't need to play every down of the upcoming two preseason games, having him play three offensive series while allowing him to get at most ten passing attempts would have been enough work to be ready for the regular season. While the rest and the avoiding injury aspect is significant with Fields not playing, the live game reps against an NFL opponent could be invaluable for a young quarterback on the verge of greatness.
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