Bears QB Justin Fields Jumps Into Rookie Of The Year Race With Dalton Out
Bears QB Andy Dalton was injured on Sunday, which paved the way for Bears rookie phenom Justin Fields to take center stage. Can the Bears go back to Dalton if Fields plays well?
Matthew Horner - Sep 22, 2021, 2:31pm EDT
- Justin Fields got his first real action as an NFL QB on Sunday when he came in to replace an injured Andy Dalton. Now he'll get his first NFL start in Week 3 against the Browns with Dalton still sidelined. If Fields plays well, can the Bears really go back to Dalton?
- As it stands currently, Justin Fields is third in Offensive Player of the Year odds at +600 at DraftKings Sportsbook. If he continues to start and gain experience, he has a real shot to win.
Fields Plays Well In First Game
Justin Fields got his first real action as an NFL QB on Sunday when he came in to replace an injured Andy Dalton. Now he'll get his first NFL start in Week 3 against the Browns with Dalton still sidelined.
While the stat sheet might not show it, Fields actually played really well against the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday. He ended up 6-13 for 60 yards and a pick. That sounds bad, I know, but there were several big throws downfield that were dropped by his receivers Darnell Mooney and Allen Robinson that could have gone for lots of yardage.
In Robinson's case, a long strike for a TD that went right through the usually sure-handed receiver's arms.
You can be sure that won't happen often, and more likely that gets caught for a TD. Fields also made an impact on the ground, rushing for first downs on critical plays.
All in all, it wasn't a bad first game for the young QB out of Ohio State. The one thing he does have to work on is turnovers, as he has fumbled the ball far too many times already. That comes with more time and experience, and he will work it out.
Fields also threw a pick right into the hands of a dropping Bengals defensive lineman that he never saw. The good news is he admitted it and told reporters exactly what the play was afterwards and how to get better. That's something former Bears QB Mitch Trubisky would have said "We'll look at the tape" to.
When Dalton Is Healthy, Can They Go Back To Him If Fields Performs?
Bears head coach Matt Nagy has already said that Dalton is their starter when he returns from his injury. But let's be honest with ourselves. If Fields is dynamic and plays well at the position while Dalton is on the sidelines, there is absolutely no way Nagy can take him out unless he wants a riot at Halas Hall.
Who knows, he could want that. The fact remains that if your rookie QB is playing great, you simply can't bench him.
That opens up avenues to bet on Fields to win offensive rookie of the year in 2021. He is currently the +600 third favorite on the odds board at DraftKings Sportsbook to win the award. Those aren't bad odds if Fields plays well, because he then would certainly be starting for the remainder of the season.
My one concern is that this is the Bears we are talking about. They almost always find some way to screw things up with incompetence, so you have to be weary. I just think Fields is such a playmaker, that he'll prove to them he belongs and you get a +600 ticket on a guy who can both run and pass as the starter.
That's good value considering your other options right now are Mac Jones and Trevor Lawrence, who aren't really known for their mobility.
