Justin Fields threw lightly on the field prior to the Chicago Bears’ game last week, hoping he would be able to play through an injury to his non-throwing shoulder after being listed as questionable on the team’s final report.
It didn’t work out that way.
Whether Fields will be ready to play when the Bears host Aaron Rodgers and the rival Green Bay Packers after sitting out last week’s 31-10 loss at the New York Jets remained in question on Wednesday.
Fields said his injury is improving, but it remained to be seen if he will be healthy enough to play this week.
The Bears (3-9) have a bye following the game against Green Bay that could give him extra time to recuperate. But he and coach Matt Eberflus insisted that won’t factor into the decision this week.
If Fields isn’t available, the Bears might have to go with third-string quarterback Nathan Peterman. They were about to do that last week.
The Bears announced Peterman would start after backup Trevor Siemian strained an oblique in warmups. Siemian gritted through the injury. The veteran did not practice Wednesday and his availability is in question.
The uncertainty at quarterback led to the Bears signing Tim Boyle to the active roster from Detroit’s practice squad. He has experience with offensive coordinator Luke Getsy from their time with Green Bay.
Against the Jets, Chicago wasn’t the same without Fields.
The Bears struggled to keep drives going, converting just four of 13 third downs after averaging about 30 points the previous five games. They lost their fifth in a row.
Fields has been on a spectacular run after a slow start with the Bears calling more designed carries. The former Ohio State star leads all quarterbacks and ranks seventh overall with 834 yards rushing. He is averaging 6.8 yards per carry — second in the NFL.
But while the Bears have shown they can run the ball whether Fields is playing or not, they still need to improve their struggling passing game. And they’ll have to do it without their top receiver after Darnell Mooney suffered a season-ending ankle injury last week.
Mooney leads Chicago with 40 receptions and 493 yards. No other wide receiver has more than 14 catches or 195 yards for Chicago this season.
Mooney’s absence could create more opportunities for Byron Pringle and Chase Claypool. Pringle, who caught his first touchdown of the season last week, has been limited to six games because of a calf injury in his first year in Chicago. Claypool had his best outing since a trade from Pittsburgh on Nov. 1, with catches of 31 and 20 yards.
