The Bears traded away their franchise quarterback, and the team is in a bit of a state of flux while they wait for Mitch Trubisky to take over. Fans are understandably upset about the trade, but it’s important to remember that this was an opportunity for Chicago to get out from under Mike Glennon and start fresh with a new quarterback.
The Mitchell Trubisky trade is a hot topic that has been discussed on social media. Bears fans are really getting heated up about it, but they need to remember that Justin Fields had just as good of an NFL debut with the Philadelphia Eagles.
On Saturday, Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Justin Fields made his much anticipated NFL debut and delivered precisely what the fans at Soldier Field had hoped for. Fields received a standing ovation after replacing starter Andy Dalton in the second quarter of the Bears’ 20-13 win over the Miami Dolphins, and he played a solid two quarters of football, displaying the impressive skillset that prompted Chicago to trade up to him with the 11th pick in this year’s NFL draft.
Fields’ performance was not just lauded by those in attendance at Soldier Field on Saturday, as numerous Bears supporters went to social media to express their admiration for the former Ohio State quarterback. Many expected Fields to start when Chicago kicks out the 2021 regular season against the Los Angeles Rams on September 9, and his performance on Saturday only added to the excitement among Bears supporters.
Fields, once again, put up a strong performance on Saturday, but it’s important to remember that this was just a preseason game. And it’s not like he was in there against the Dolphins’ starting the whole time. And, Bears lovers, there’s one more thing. Do you recall a player who looked fantastic in his preseason debut a few years ago? That’s correct. Mitch Trubisky is a quarterback for the Chicago Bears.
Fields received a standing ovation when he joined the Bears’ preseason opener against the Dolphins in the second quarter, but he struggled against the Miami defensive starting. His first three drives yielded no first downs, and he came close to throwing two interceptions and losing a fumble.
To his credit, he maintained his composure and guided the Bears to three straight touchdown drives while flaunting his arm and legs. However, most of it came against Miami’s backups, not the starting, as is customary in preseason. Fields threw for 142 yards and a score on 14 of 20 passing attempts, good for a 106.7 passer rating, and added 33 yards and a touchdown on five running attempts.
Look, Fields put up a good performance. But it wasn’t as perfect as many people portray it to be, since he made many errors. That’s to be expected from a rookie quarterback making his first NFL debut. He has a great deal of skill as well as many weapons. But, then again, it’s just a preseason game, so let’s all relax a little.
Mitch Trubisky also had a strong NFL debut for the Bears.
Justin Fields and Mitch Trubisky (L-R) | Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images; Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images; Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
The Bears moved up in the NFL draft in 2017 to pick North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky, who, of course, became public enemy No. 1 in Chicago after a few years and is now a member of the Buffalo Bills, just as they did in 2021 to select Fields.
Trubisky, like Fields, turned up a strong performance in his debut game as a Bear in a preseason defeat to the Denver Broncos. Following Mike Glennon and Mark Sanchez as the team’s first two quarterbacks, Trubisky led Chicago to two consecutive touchdown drives to start his career, converting a 10-0 deficit into a 14-10 lead.
Trubisky completed his first ten throws and went 18-for-25 for 166 yards and a score, good for a passer rating of 103.1. The Soldier Field fans went crazy for Trubisky during that first performance, much as it did with Fields on Saturday. So, after only one preseason game, let’s slam the brakes on Fields.
Fields’ only chance of starting for the Bears in Week 1 is if Andy Dalton is hurt.
Matt Nagy, the Bears’ head coach, has said for months that Dalton would be the starting quarterback in Week 1. That will remain the case regardless of how Fields performs in the next two preseason games. Between now and September 12, the only way Fields becomes the starter is if Dalton is injured. And that’s precisely how it should be.
Look, it’s totally natural that Bears supporters are upset right now. They want Fields to be that man since the club hasn’t had a really great quarterback in decades (although Jay Cutler doesn’t get nearly enough credit…yeah, I said it). However, he is still extremely raw and has a lot to learn about the NFL right now. The game will never be as sluggish as he believes it was on Saturday, and he will continue to make many errors.
Is Justin Fields a gifted musician? Absolutely. Is he, though, ready to start in the NFL? Certainly not. Dalton is a good fit for the Bears right now, and he’ll be an excellent mentor for Fields this season. And if Dalton gets hurt or fails this season, Fields could get his opportunity. But, when (not if) he makes the errors he’ll make, how fast will Bears fans turn on him like they did Mitch Trubisky, the man who went 11-3 in his second season as a starter?
Pro Football Reference provided the statistics.
RELATED: The Chicago Bears owe Justin Fields to Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
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