Big Blue won’t see Bears’ Fields
Quarterback Justin Fields will miss his second straight game because of an ankle injury when the Chicago Bears host the Giants on Sunday.
Coach Matt Nagy said Friday that Andy Dalton will start after being sidelined because of a groin injury and Nick Foles will be the backup. Fields is listed as questionable after practicing on a limited basis this week.
“Justin is continuing to improve every day, but as I’ve said from the start, we want to make sure that we’re always putting him and these players in the best position possible,” Nagy said. “So, he’s working toward that. If he’s gonna be up, then we’d want him to be the starter. That’s why we’re making that decision.”
Fields missed last weekend’s win at Seattle after getting injured in a Monday night loss to Minnesota.
Foles made his first start in 13 months and led the Bears (5-10) to a 25-24 comeback victory. The Super Bowl 52 MVP threw a 15yard touchdown to Jimmy Graham with about a minute remaining. Damiere Byrd made an acrobatic reception for the 2-point conversion, and Chicago came out on top after losing eight of nine.
Nagy said the “pain of the football movements” is limiting Fields. He also said the prized rookie is doing everything he can to be ready for the season finale at Minnesota on Jan. 9.
Fields, the No. 11 overall draft pick, moved into the starting role after Dalton was injured in Week 2. He has displayed the quickness, arm and poise that have the Bears thinking big things could be on the way. But there is clearly room to improve.
Fields has more interceptions (10) than touchdowns (seven), to go along with a rather ordinary completion rate (58.9%) and passer rating (73.2). He did string together several promising performances in a row before cracking his ribs against Baltimore in Week 11.
Fields missed the next two games, then returned in the loss to Green Bay on Dec. 12 before hurting his ankle against Minnesota.
The Bears would obviously like him to play again this season. But they also have to weigh that against the risk of injury.
“We’re never gonna do anything to jeopardize his health,” Nagy said. “It’s just not gonna happen. So once we get by that part, now the next question is, ‘OK. Medically, is he cleared?’ And then pain-wise where are you to be able to play football and be effective.”
Dalton, who joined the Bears on a one-year, $10 million contract in March, is poised to make his fifth start. The three-time Pro Bowler has thrown for 1,017 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions in six games.
VIKES’ COUSINS OUT WITH COVID
The Minnesota Vikings placed quarterback Kirk Cousins on the COVID-19 reserve list on Friday, two days before their most important game of the season at Green Bay.
Cousins is unvaccinated. Even if he were asymptomatic, he wouldn’t be able to return in time to face the Packers. The NFL recently reduced the required quarantine period to five days for asymptomatic players.
The Vikings (7-8) are one game out of the last wild-card spot in the NFC with two weeks to go. The Packers (12-3) are in control of the top seed and a first-round bye.
The Vikings activated backup quarterback Sean Mannion from the COVID-19 reserve list, putting the seventh-year veteran in line to start at frigid Lambeau Field on Sunday night. Rookie Kellen Mond, who was drafted in the third round, has not developed quickly enough this season to be considered.
“Sean is extremely bright. He studies like crazy. He’s a great competitor. He’s put in this time. He’s earned this opportunity and I think he’ll be ready,” coach Mike Zimmer said after practice on Friday. “I think they’re going to rally behind Sean. They know how important this game is, and they believe in Sean.”
Mannion started one game for the Los Angeles Rams in 2017 and one game for the Vikings in 2019, when Cousins was held out of the final regular-season game as a precaution prior to the playoffs.