Bears’ Fields unsure whether to play with rapidly rising target

LAKE FOREST, Unwell. (AP)—Justin Fields might not stand an opportunity to interrupt the single-season operating document for an NFL quarterback.

Coach Matt Eberflus questioned Fields’ standing for the Chicago Bears’ season finale towards Minnesota on Monday and stated there have been “conversations happening about all people” with normal supervisor Ryan Poles.

Fields wants 63 yards to interrupt the 2019 QB speeding document of 1,206, set by Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson throughout his MVP season. However it’s unclear whether or not the Bears will seize the chance after they host the NFC North champion Vikings on Sunday.

“We’re engaged on that, all people, together with Justin,” Eberflus stated. “We will go to Ryan, who’s the remainder of the teaching crew. The well being of the soccer crew, the entire well being of the crew, is totally different from the place we had been two weeks in the past to the place we are actually, so I feel it is necessary that we consider that.”

Fields was one of many few vibrant spots for a crew that restructured in its first season beneath the Poles and Eberflus. The Bears (3-13) set a franchise document by taking their skating to 9 video games, their thirteenth defeat in a single recreation. 41-10 explosions in Detroit on Sunday. The one crew with a worse document than Chicago is Houston (2-13-1).

Eberflus was a bit extra timid on Monday after stating that Fields could be obtainable after the sport. When requested if Fields, who sat with no separate shoulder in Week 12, would play if he was wholesome, he answered “sure”. He added that the Bears will “doubtlessly” know who their first quarterback is on Wednesday after they practice for the primary time this week.

“I might say the well being of our soccer crew is necessary. And that issues everybody.”

Fields ran for 1,143 yards, ending sixth within the NFL till Sunday. Common league chief of seven.1 per strive. With the best way he broke large runs, he might get previous Jackson with out taking too many hits.

Eberflus stated the document was “an necessary issue”.

“However it’s not the top of all the things, it is the start of all the things,” he added. “The well being of our crew is completely an important factor.”

WHAT WORKS

Particular groups. The Bears obtained a 63-yard kickoff from Velus Jones Jr. and one other strong efficiency from rookie bookie Trenton Gill. He had seven degauss for 321 yards and three fell inside 20.

WHAT NOT

Transition recreation. After exhibiting some indicators of progress as a passerby, this can be a Take a step back for the fields. He was fired a season-high seven instances with a 7 out of 21 and a 40.8 score for 75 yards. The Bears hurriedly take the lead within the league, whereas remaining final within the NFL. However after an early transfer, floor play additionally stopped. Though Fields ran for 132 yards, most got here in Chicago’s first two properties. Fields made a 31-yard run on the game-starting landing drive and set a discipline aim by operating 60 yards on the Bears’ subsequent place.

STOCK

Jones Jr. Fields was later stopped at 35 by Aidan Hutchinson. Towards Buffalo the week earlier than, Jones took 4 kickoffs for 113 yards, together with 40 yards within the first quarter. Earlier within the season, he misplaced degagage return duties when he choked two of them in a three-game span, including to losses towards the New York Giants and Washington Commanders.

STOCK LOWING

WR Chase Claypool. Studying a brand new system in November is tough, and lacking back-to-back video games attributable to a knee harm earlier than returning on Sunday did not make issues any simpler. However the Bears anticipated extra after they despatched a runoff decide to Pittsburgh within the 2023 audition to choose him up. Claypool has simply 111 yards on 12 catches and has failed to attain in six video games for Chicago. Towards Detroit, as he tried to catch a transfer within the two-minute warning, the one move in his approach was gone.

INJURY

Eberflus stated WR Dante Pettis flew residence individually after being discharged from the hospital. After being shaken at Sunday’s recreation, he was cleared of concussion protocol and can proceed to be watched. Pettis skilled blurred imaginative and prescient, and Eberflus stated it was the one symptom he knew of.

KEY NUMBER

1 — The Bears have one recreation left and have a shot on the #1 decide within the NFL draft.

NEXT STEPS

The Bears closed the season towards Minnesota, a crew that was crushed 41-17 at residence in Inexperienced Bay on Sunday.

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