Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields suffered a hand injury during Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings, and the severity of the injury will determine whether he will miss an extended period of time. Fields dislocated his right thumb and attempted to continue playing, but the Bears decided to remove him from the game to avoid further damage. It is reported that Fields will undergo a further examination on Monday, including an MRI, to assess the extent of the injury.
Fields’ injury adds to the struggles of the Bears’ offense, as they failed to move the football effectively throughout the game. Prior to leaving the game, Fields only managed to throw for 58 yards on 10 attempts and threw his sixth interception of the season. The pressure from the Minnesota defense forced Fields into a risky throw, resulting in an interception by linebacker Jordan Hicks.
Backup quarterback Tyson Bagent entered the game in place of Fields and showed promise. Despite throwing a late interception to Byron Murphy Jr., Bagent completed 10 out of 14 passes for 83 yards and even ran for a touchdown. If Fields is unable to play due to the severity of his injury, it is likely that Bagent will become the new starter for the Bears.
The Bears’ offense as a whole struggled to amass 300 yards of offense in their loss to the Vikings. However, the Bears’ defense performed well, holding the Vikings to just 220 total yards, including a mere 46 rushing yards. Despite missing star wide receiver Justin Jefferson, the Vikings couldn’t find success against the Bears’ defense.
With the Bears’ season already considered a lost cause, Fields’ injury could provide an opportunity for the franchise to start fresh in 2024. If Fields is sidelined for an extended period of time, the Bears may choose to move on from him and select a new franchise quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft.
It remains to be seen whether Fields’ injury is significant enough to land him on injured reserve, but the results of Monday’s MRI will shed light on his recovery timeline. In the meantime, the Bears will have to rely on the talents of Tyson Bagent to lead their offense.
