The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Ohio State’s Fields rallies Bears over Dolphins
CHICAGO >> Once rookie quarterback Justin Fields settled in, the Bears saw the playmaking ability they dreamed about on draft day.
Fields rallied Chicago back Aug. 14 from a 13-0 deficit in his preseason debut by throwing for a touchdown and running for one in a 20-13 victory over the Dolphins.
“It is preseason and we understand that there’s variables involved and all that, but at the same time if you said is he doing what you want him to do? Absolutely,” Bears coach Matt Nagy said.
In just over two quarters of playing time, Fields was 14 of 20 for 142 yards and was at his best rolling outside
the pocket and throwing.
“I definitely feel good outside of the pocket,” Fields said. “It puts a lot of pressure on the defense and allows me to play backyard football with the receivers.”
Fields’ passing also helped the Bears get on the scoreboard for the first time with a 53-yard Cairo Santos field goal on the final play of the first half. Until that possession, the Bears hadn’t picked up a first down as Miami dominated play early.
With Soldier Field fans chanting “Let’s Go Fields,” the former Ohio State passer replaced starter Andy Dalton with 12:11 left until halftime but needed a few drives to get warmed up. Fields did fumble during a scramble following a spin move in the second quarter before the rally began, but the ball went out of bounds.
“I think after that I’m going to officially retire the spin move,” Fields said.
The Bears put away the win with Brian Johnson’s 44-yard field goal following a 51-yard run by Artavis Pierce in the fourth quarter after Fields left the game.
The performance left Bears players bubbling.
“He’s a natural,” said receiver Rodney Adams, who led the Bears with four catches for 57 yards.
The passing of Jacoby Brissette and Tua Tagovailoa staked the Dolphins to their early lead. Brissette
threw a 23-yard TD pass to Salvon Ahmed and Jason Sanders had field goals of 21 and 35 yards in the first half.
Tagovailoa, who started for Miami, found tight end Mike Gesicke for a 50-yard completion to set up the 21yard
field goal.
Tagovailoa went 8 of 11 for 99 yards. Brissette was 6 of 10 for 67 yards.
Future starter?
Fields will keep his focus on improving for now and not on what he might need to do to take the starting spot from Dalton. Nagy has insisted Dalton is the starter.
“I think when you look into the future you start worrying about way too much stuff,” Fields said. “You start thinking too much ahead.”
Help arrives
The Bears have reached agreement with former Eagles and Bills veteran Jason Peters, 39, and will let him have a chance to win the left tackle spot.
“I think he’s coming in here to be the left tackle,” Nagy said. “It’s open, man. It’s competition.”
Rookie Teven Jenkins had been expected to start there but has had back issues. The team hasn’t said he’s going on injured reserve.