Justin Fields felt higher Wednesday than he did every week in the past as he continues recovering from a separated left shoulder.
But the Chicago Bears quarterback stated he gained’t absolutely know if he’s able to play Sunday towards the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field till he will get by extra practices.
Fields once more was limited at the first practice of the week, held contained in the Walter Payton Center due to excessive winds in Lake Forest. In the portion of the apply open to the media, he ran by ball safety drills holding the soccer along with his left arm and threw a number of occasions on the transfer.
Last week he stated he felt ache handing the ball off and ending his throws. He spoke earlier than apply Wednesday however indicated he must get to some extent at which he appears like he will be productive whereas enjoying by the discomfort.
“There’s (only) a few people in this league that are quote-unquote 100% (in Week 13),” Fields stated. “So I’m just going to go out there and if I feel like I can help my team win, help my team score … then I’m going to play. So we’ll just see how practice goes today and see how I feel.”
Fields stated he thought he had an opportunity to play towards the New York Jets in Week 12 however didn’t really feel snug sufficient in warmups. Bears coach Matt Eberflus stated Fields additionally didn’t have medical clearance or the OK from coaches or common supervisor Ryan Poles.
“It was basically just seeing how I felt throwing the ball, throwing on the run … just seeing how I felt throughout warmups,” Fields stated.
The Bears quarterback state of affairs is in such a state of flux that the crew had to herald a fourth-string choice, signing Tim Boyle off the Detroit Lions apply squad.
Trevor Siemian, who injured his indirect throughout warmups earlier than the/ loss to the Jets however performed by the harm, didn’t apply Wednesday. Third-string quarterback Nathan Peterman, who briefly was slated to start out towards the Jets if Siemian didn’t play, was anticipated to take some crew reps Wednesday and ought to be in line to start out if Fields and Siemian can’t play.
Peterman was a Buffalo Bills fifth-round choose in 2017 and has 4 profession begins, his final in 2018. He threw three interceptions in a 41-9 Bears victory in that sport.
Eberflus stated they introduced in Boyle as a “precaution to make sure we’re covering all of our bases.”
Boyle and offensive coordinator Luke Getsy labored collectively for 2 seasons with the Packers in 2019-20 earlier than Boyle moved to the Lions. Boyle began the primary three video games of his profession final 12 months, finishing 61 of 94 passes for 526 yards, three touchdowns and 6 interceptions.
The Bears have a bye in Week 14, so Fields would have additional time to heal if he doesn’t play Sunday. But Eberflus stated that isn’t a think about figuring out his sport standing this week.
“If he feels really comfortable and feels great and his mobility and strength’s back for the medical staff and then the GM and head coach look at it and say, ‘Hey, green light,’ then it’s a green light,” Eberflus stated. “So we’ll see it during the course of the week. (It’s) day to day for this week.”
If Fields does play, Eberflus acknowledged the Bears must look at the sport plan to ensure they put him able the place he can shield himself.
“We’ve always got to be protective of the quarterback,” Eberflus stated. “We’ve got to keep him safe. He’s got to keep himself out of harm’s way. The situation this week is no different. Certainly we look at all that every single week. That’s our quarterback. We want to make sure he’s safe.”
Packers coach Matt LaFleur informed reporters in Green Bay they’ve to organize for Fields enjoying.
“We’d be foolish not to plan for Justin because if you don’t you will get gutted,” LaFleur stated. “That quarterback run game they have is pretty spectacular. And that doesn’t always even show up just in the run game, but even in his ability to drop back and if nothing’s there to pull it down and find a window or an escape lane and make you pay in that regard. We’re going to have to have everybody in tune and on the same page. You can’t give this guy a sliver of light otherwise he will make you pay.”
Fields — or any quarterback who begins — may have the problem of enjoying with out broad receiver Darnell Mooney, who went on injured reserve with a season-ending ankle harm Tuesday.
Eberflus stated the Bears should make up Mooney’s manufacturing — 40 catches for 493 yards and two touchdowns — by committee. Chase Claypool is an apparent choice for extra targets as he continues to get extra snug within the offense. And Byron Pringle is one other participant from whom the Bears haven’t gotten as a lot as anticipated this season. Pringle, who missed six video games with a calf harm, had his first sport with the Bears with multiple catch Sunday.
“I’m always hungry,” Pringle stated. “You can look on that from final 12 months. … I’m simply ready for my quantity to be referred to as.
Mooney was one among Fields’ favourite targets, and Fields stated it was robust to lose him as a participant and a frontrunner. But Fields additionally stated he’s trying ahead to seeing what different gamers can do.
“I don’t think it’s a challenge actually. It’s an opportunity,” Fields stated. “I’m excited to build that connection more with other receivers on the team. So it’s going to be fun finding out what different guys can do because in our offense we usually game plan on certain routes what Darnell could do.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com