LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Justin Fields returned to practice in full this week after missing four games with a dislocated right thumb. Bears head coach Matt Eberflus announced Monday that Fields was expected to start Sunday against the Detroit Lions as long as the quarterback progressed as expected throughout the week.
Consider that box checked.
“I thought he improved,” Eberflus said Friday at Halas Hall of Fields’ week of practice. “I thought he got a feel for where he was and I thought he improved every single day. You get that timing with the receivers on the concepts you’re running that particular week. I thought he got his footwork back where it needed to be. And I thought the accuracy was good, got better as the week went. I thought he was good.”
Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy said Thursday that the biggest challenge of getting Fields back in sync after a month on the shelf was seeing how much the third-year signal-caller is able to handle in his first live-action in four weeks.
“We’re still going through that to see how far he can take everything,” Getsy said Thursday. “The reps are important, and just making sure he feels comfortable and ready to rock and roll is really the most important thing.”
During his four-week absence, Fields stayed locked in and mentally prepared as if he was going to play each week. On Sundays, Fields wore a headset to listen to Getsy call the game and tried to mentally play the game in his head.
With his mind sharp and his body rested, Fields is champing at the bit to return for a key seven-game stretch that will play a role in determining his future with the organization.
After easing back into practice in a limited fashion, Fields and his still-healing thumb are in a good place heading into Detroit.
“It feels pretty good,” Fields said Wednesday. “Just getting back into things. Feels good to throw. Arm feels fresh. Feel good.”
Two questions remain about Fields’ return Sunday in Detroit.
The first concerns whether or not he will wear anything to support his thumb and aid his grip on Sunday. When he first returned to practice, Fields wore a glove on his right hand but quickly ditched it. He also tried a glove with the thumb cut out and a wrap. Lately, he has just some supportive tape.
“Taped it up today at practice,” Fields said. “We’ll see how it is feeling on Sunday and whether I need tape or not. I tried the glove at first, just because I didn’t have to grip the ball as much with the glove. So but. I didn’t really feel too comfortable with the glove on.”
The second thing the Bears need to determine is how much they’ll balance shotgun snaps versus under center with Fields’ thumb.
“That’s part of the progression of the week, trying to figure that out – what he’s feeling great about, what he’s feeling comfortable with,” Getsy said. “Haven’t narrowed that down ust exactly yet. But feel good about being able to do a lot of different things so far, and he’s handled the week pretty good.”
The Bears went 2-2 in Fields’ absence, with undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent at the helm. Bagent proved to be a capable backup during his month as QB1, but getting Fields back will give the 3-7 Bears a jolt of energy as they prepare for the stretch run.
“There’s an excitement, no doubt,” Eberlfus said. “I think that certainly having our starter back is definitely a boost. You could see the defense getting excited about it and talking to him on the side in the building, and certainly, the offensive guys were excited about it. You could see it in walkthrough how the energy was there. Yeah, definitely could see it.”
Fields will make his first start since Oct. 15 after recovering from a dislocated right thumb. His comeback starts with the Bears’ first meeting this season with the NFC North-leading Lions (7-2). It’s the first of three straight division games for the Bears (3-7).
As kickoff approaches, here’s our snapshot look at the game.
Player in the spotlight
Justin Fields
Coach Matt Eberflus said Friday that he could feel the excitement at Halas Hall this week as the Bears welcomed back Fields, who missed four games and is “champing at the bit” to play.
The Bears evaluated Fields’ operation playing with the injury all week — the quarterback’s first full week of practice — and Eberflus said he improved every day.
“You get that timing with the receivers on the concepts you’re running that particular week,” Eberflus said. “He got his footwork back where it needed to be. The accuracy was good, got better as the week went on.”
Fields said Wednesday that he was focused on Sunday’s game and not the big-picture implications of the final seven games of the season — when he will have to prove to Bears leadership that he should be the team’s future quarterback.
Eberflus echoed that Fields needs a microfocus so he doesn’t put too much pressure on himself as he returns against a Lions defense led by defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. The second pick of the 2022 draft has 4 1/2 sacks, 13 quarterback hits, four tackles for a loss, a forced fumble, an interception and four passes defended.
“Just operate the offense,” Eberflus said. “Protect the football. Operate the offense. Let the runners run, give it to them, let them do their thing. And when you have your chance and your opportunity when called, make it happen and let it flow. That’s really the message to him and what he has been focused on.”
Pressing question
What’s next for a healthier Bears defense?
The Bears could have most of their starting defense intact Sunday if linebacker Tremaine Edmunds returns from a knee injury that kept him out the last two games. Edmunds was limited in practice Friday and is listed as questionable to play.
The Bears would benefit from being full strength against one of the best offenses they have faced this season. The Lions rank second with 406.4 yards per game and sixth with 26.8 points per game. They boast a balanced attack, ranking fourth in both rushing and passing yards per game.
Quarterback Jared Goff has completed 68.4% of his passes for 2,507 yards, 14 touchdowns and five interceptions with just 15 sacks.
“The quarterback is talented,” cornerbacks coach Jon Hoke said. “He has seen a lot of football, and you can see that. The way he goes through his progression is so quick, and he knows where he needs to go with the football. He protects the ball well, does not throw many interceptions. Doesn’t take a whole lot of sacks, knows how to get rid of the ball.”
Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has 65 catches for 821 yards and four touchdowns, and rookie tight end Sam LaPorta has 47 catches for 474 yards and four touchdowns.
“Two really dynamic players at their respective positions,” Eberflus said. “St. Brown is just a fantastic player. … You talk about his strength and his quickness — his ability to stay open with his quickness but also be open with his strength if he is covered.
“Then the tight end is obviously a great get for those guys. He shows great athletic ability. He’s got a big catch radius, which allows him to stay open. But he understands the game and he understands how to use his body above his years. Him being a rookie, to me when I look at him he looks like a second- or third-year player.”
Keep an eye on …
David Montgomery
After four seasons with the Bears, Montgomery, a 2019 third-round draft pick of former general manager Ryan Pace, opted to sign with the Lions in the offseason. Now, behind a very good offensive line, he’s on pace for the best season of his career.
Montgomery, who topped 1,000 rushing yards for the Bears in 2020, has rushed for 501 yards and seven touchdowns on 106 carries in six games.
“We know him pretty well,” linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi said. “Big, strong, hits the hole really fast, runs with great pad level, really good after contact, keeps his legs moving. Both backs, him and (Jahmyr) Gibbs, are dynamic.”
Gibbs, the 12th pick in the 2023 draft, has 90 carries for 476 yards and four touchdowns and 31 catches for 200 yards.
Borgonzi said Gibbs reminds him of New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara.
“He’s really good out of the backfield catching the ball,” Borgonzi said. “An interesting dynamic with Montgomery, who is more of the power back and Gibbs is more of the outside runner but dynamic in the open field. Can make people miss but also finishes runs.”
Khalil Herbert to return
Fields isn’t the only Bears player making a comeback this week.
Eberflus said the Bears planned to activate running back Khalil Herbert after he missed five games with a high ankle sprain. Herbert was the starting back with 51 carries for 272 yards before the injury.
Herbert said he was happy to see D’Onta Foreman succeed in his place and isn’t worried about how it will affect his opportunities. Foreman, who is questionable to play with an ankle injury, has 86 carries for 367 and three touchdowns.
“I always have the same mindset since I’ve been in the league: Get one carry and try and score,” Herbert said. “I try to make the most of whatever I can get, and I feel like he’s done the same thing and so have the other guys.”
Now the Bears must strike a balance between how they use the duo and rookie running back Roschon Johnson. Eberflus said they’ll have a plan for the reps but also will look at the flow of the game and who’s running well to determine which player to turn to.
“It’s just going to be a heck of a group effort,” Herbert said. “We’ve got guys in our room that can take it the distance and punish the defense. One guy goes out, another guy goes in. (The Lions) are going to be tired, but we’re going to be fresh. I feel like that’s a lot to defend.”
