Bears, Colts, Dolphins dealing with quarterback injuries

Fields to make first start for Bears with Dalton injured

LAKE FOREST, ILL. » Justin Fields is set to make his first start for the Chicago Bears.

The team will go with the prized rookie quarterback when the Bears visit the Cleveland Browns this week with veteran Andy Dalton sidelined because of a left knee injury, coach Matt Nagy said Wednesday. “Justin’s gonna be our starter,” he said. Nagy said Dalton remains the team’s No. 1 quarterback for now and the plan is for him to be the starter when he is healthy. Nagy said the three-time Pro Bowler is week to week, though the Bears don’t think he will be placed on injured reserve. Super Bowl 52 MVP Nick Foles will be the backup quarterback.

Fields, the No. 11 pick in the draft, took over on Chicago’s final drive in the first half of Sunday’s 20-17 win over Cincinnati after getting in a handful of plays earlier in the game, and he led the Bears the rest of the way.

Dalton was injured on a 14-yard run early in the second quarter. Fields took the final three snaps of that possession.

Dalton was in for the next drive, before Fields led Chicago’s final one of the half.

Fields showed some promise in his first extended look as a pro. But by his own admission, it wasn’t a great outing. He completed just 6 of 13 passes for 60 yards and threw an interception late in the game that led to a touchdown. He also ran for 31 yards.

Colts prepare for Titans with uncertainty at QB

INDIANAPOLIS » Indianapolis coach Frank Reich still doesn’t know who will start at quarterback against Tennessee.

Carson Wentz has two sprained ankles and missed Wednesday’s practice and the Colts have only two other healthy quarterbacks on the roster — Jacob Eason and Brett Hundley.

So Reich is preparing for Sunday’s key division game with Eason taking firstteam snaps. Wentz is hopeful he can recover quickly enough to give it a shot.

“Still sore, both of them and working through it,” Wentz said after walking without a boot to a microphone. “Honestly, a lot of unknown. See how my body responds and doing everything we can. Each day, shoot, each couple of hours it’s gotten better. So, we’ll see how it continue to progress.”

Wentz hurt his right ankle when he got twisted around in a pile midway through the fourth quarter of last week’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams and said he was fortunate it wasn’t broken. The left ankle, Wentz believes, was injured during the third quarter.

He spent the previous two days studying film, getting treatment and resting.

While it sounds as if Wentz may not practice Thursday, Reich declined to rule him out even though his general rule is a player must practice at least Friday to play — though he has made exceptions.

Wentz said he’s played after being limited in practice, he couldn’t recall playing without practicing.

Dolphins say Tua broke ribs, won’t play vs. Raiders

MIAMI GARDENS, FLA. » Tua Tagovailoa has fractured ribs and will not play Sunday when the Miami Dolphins visit the Raiders.

The Dolphins announced the updated diagnosis Wednesday, after initial tests suggested Tagovailoa was dealing with bruised ribs. Further exams showed the fractures, and the Dolphins already have decided that Jacoby Brissett will start this weekend.

It’s unclear how long Tagovailoa will be sidelined. Dolphins coach Brian Flores did not want to offer a timetable for a potential return but said Tagovailoa is already improving.

Tagovailoa was injured on the second series of Miami’s 35-0 loss to Buffalo last weekend. He took a hit on a fourth-down play from the Bills’ A.J. Epenesa, then slowly made his way to the sideline where a cart was waiting to take him off the field.

Tagovailoa completed 17 of 22 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown when the Dolphins went to Las Vegas and beat the Raiders 26-25 last season.