The Chicago Bears have started the new NFL season in a familiar way, as they’re 0-2 and are dealing with some disappointing play from quarterback Justin Fields.
Now in his third season, the hope that he would start to put it all together is waning, as his numbers have been very poor to begin the year.
Following Chicago’s 27-17 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, Fields said he was playing “robotic,” and when asked why, he appeared to blame his team’s caching staff.
But he later walked back that comment, claiming he’s “not blaming anything on the coaches” and that he simply needs to play better, via Bleacher Report.
“I’m not blaming anything on the coaches. … I need to play better.”
Justin Fields says he’s taking all the blame for any mistakes happening on the field 💯
(via @KRoseSharkey)pic.twitter.com/evqUikFf4b
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 20, 2023
Versus Tampa Bay, Fields completed 16 of 29 passes and threw two interceptions against just one touchdown pass, and he only managed to run for four yards on three attempts.
On the season so far, he has a 60.6 percent completion rate and a meager 70.7 passer rating.
A dual-threat quarterback, Fields put up outstanding passing numbers in his two seasons at Ohio State University, but the fear is growing he could be one of those players who were excellent in college but will be just so-so in the pros.
The Bears went out and got him help during the offseason by trading the No. 1 overall pick in the draft to the Carolina Panthers for DJ Moore, a very productive wide receiver.
Moore has 129 receiving yards through two games, with 104 of them coming against Tampa Bay, but that production hasn’t helped Fields elevate his game.
Perhaps the Bears should’ve kept that draft pick and taken their chances with quarterback Bryce Young.
