The Chicago Bears anticipate quarterback Justin Fields to take the subsequent step as a passer this season, and it seems to be like followers will not have to attend lengthy to test his progress.
The 24-year-old and the opposite rookies will play their first preseason recreation at Soldier Area towards the Tennessee Titans on Aug. 12, head coach Matt Eberflus stated after coaching camp on Tuesday.
A number of quarterbacks will not get right into a single recreation through the preseason. For Fields and Co. It’s nonetheless not clear what number of snaps he’ll play within the opener.
In final yr’s season opener, he performed 18 snaps. Over the Bears’ different two summer time video games, he made a complete of 39 snaps.
“We truly visited that morning,” Eberless stated, by way of Chicago Sun Times. “It is going to be some enjoying time — a little bit bit there. However (how a lot) I am unsure. We’ll must proceed to debate that.”
Fields was drafted in 2021 with the Bears’ eleventh choose and positioned within the beginning position throughout his rookie season. Eberflus is ready for January 2022.
“We have now a yr of expertise, albeit we nonetheless have a really younger soccer group,” stated Eberles. “However I believe they should get a while off in pre-season for certain.”
Final season, Fields began 15 video games. He accomplished 60.4% of his passes for two,242 yards with 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions as he adjusted to the brand new system. He added one other eight touchdowns on the bottom, and rushed for 1,143 yards—the second-most ever by a quarterback.
Tuesday noticed the Bears’ first apply at coaching camp in Al-Fut. Large receivers Chase Claypool, Darnell Mooney, and Cole Kmet have been all talked about in notes from the day and certain focused by Fields within the preseason opener.