Bears rookie quarterback Justin Fields will make his first NFL start Sunday against the Browns with starter Andy Dalton sidelined with a bone bruise in his knee.
Dalton has been deemed “week-to-week” by Bears head coach Matt Nagy, which is on track with the typical prognosis of most bone bruises.
But according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Bears believe Dalton’s absence with a knee injury should be short, which explains why he wasn’t placed on injured reserve. If the team believed Dalton would be out longer than two games, IR would make sense for a three-game absence.
Fowler went on to say that the Bears aren’t ruling out a potential return next week for Dalton. Although, Fields will certainly have plenty to say about that as he makes his first start.
The Bears believe Andy Dalton’s absence via knee injury should be short, which is why he hasn’t been placed on Injured Reserve, per source. A potential return next week is not off the table.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) September 26, 2021
Earlier this week, Nagy made it clear that Dalton is the team’s starter when he’s healthy. But that’s what he’s supposed to say in the moment. If Fields goes out there and lights it against the Browns and against the Lions next week, you can’t go back to Dalton.
Sure, it’s terrible for players to lose starting jobs due to injury. But that’s the nature of the business. And Dalton was always a placeholder at QB until Fields was ready.
If Fields proves he’s ready, even Nagy can’t go back to Dalton. Healthy or not.
