The Chicago Bears’ current quarterback situation has been of particular interest to its fans ever since the franchise drafted Justin Fields as their next quarterback of the future but also signed Andy Dalton during the offseason to be the quarterback of right now.
While that system has been in place for a couple of weeks, things changed this past weekend when Dalton went down with an injury. Fields entered the game and played okay for a rookie, but given that so many fans are eager to begin the Justin Fields Era in Chicago, there has been a lot of clamoring for that era to begin now.
Head coach Matt Nagy was very cagey during the post-game presser, refusing to comment on whether or not Dalton was still the starter. He eventually made an official comment on Monday, saying that Dalton remains the starter “when he is healthy.”
#Bears PR just came into the media room to deliver a message from Matt Nagy:
Andy Dalton is the team's starting quarterback when he is healthy.
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) September 20, 2021
At the time it remained to be seen if Fields would indeed get the start this weekend and it’s now official that he will.
Coach Nagy has announced that Justin Fields will be our starting QB against the Browns.
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 22, 2021
Nagy reiterated that Dalton is still the starter “when healthy,” but Fields, for his part, is primed and ready to go.
Bears rookie QB Justin Fields: "I think I'm ready. I've been preparing for this moment for a long time."
— Jeff Dickerson (@DickersonESPN) September 22, 2021
“I think I’m ready,” said Fields. “I’ve been preparing for this moment for a long time.”
That enthusiasm, coupled with the excitement that Bears fans have over potentially finding a solid quarterback to build the franchise around, has a lot of NFL fans and media members talking on Twitter.
IT'S HAPPENING! https://t.co/VuJWEJ2iGj
— Bears Talk (@NBCSBears) September 22, 2021
JUSTIN FIELDS STARTING pic.twitter.com/3lZBhj79xu
— Joy Taylor (@JoyTaylorTalks) September 22, 2021
bears fans hearing the news justin fields is now the starter pic.twitter.com/GPIAdBr4y7
— Morale Supply Co.™ (@moralesupplyco) September 22, 2021
Andy Dalton looking for Matt Nagy after he named Justin Fields the starter pic.twitter.com/8qBbVyQeHx
— #RingerNFL (@ringernfl) September 22, 2021
If Fields can lead the Bears to victory this weekend against the Cleveland Browns, expect Matt Nagy’s insistence that Dalton is still the starter to get even more pushback than it’s already getting from fans.
[Bears]
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.