Bears won’t shut down QB Justin Fields for final two games
When asked if the two injuries Fields suffered against Buffalo cast doubt on his availability, Everflath replied Monday, “Absolutely not.”
Fields said Saturday that he injured his previously injured non-throwing shoulder and stepped in the second half during Chicago’s 35-13 loss to the Bills. The quarterback said after the game that he expected him to be “prepared” although he could not put weight on his injured leg.
Regarding the left shoulder he injured in Week 11, Fields said doctors and trainers told him it would be “a nagging injury for the rest of the year” and that he plans to get over it in Chicago’s final two games.
Eberflus repeated on the same Monday.
“He’s ready,” the Bears coach said. “He’s healthy and ready for the week.”
The Bears were eliminated from postseason contention after losing to the Green Bay Packers in Week 13. Despite an eight-game losing streak, Everflus believe Fields will be worth playing the rest of the season if he is healthy.
“Because we have to improve,” Eberflus said. “We want to improve. We want to see where we are. These last two games are important. They are divisional opponents for us and very important for our football team to see the competition. It’s important to… it’s important to each player, it’s important to each unit, it’s important to the football team as a whole.”
The Bears currently retain the No. 2 pick in the 2023 Draft and are 3-12 after 16 weeks. If Houston (2-12-1), who beat Tennessee on Saturday, wins one of his last two games and the Bears lose both of his last two games, Chicago will be in the draft order. , skipping the Texans and earning the #1 overall pick. .
The value placed on Chicago’s final two contest victories fulfills the short-term goal of learning how to finish. The Bears are 1-6 in 1-scoring games this season.
It also hits long-term goals, according to Eberflus.
“I think it’s worth it because you have to learn how to finish,” Everflus said. “We were out in the game yesterday or two days ago and you saw that, right? In the fourth quarter, with eight minutes left, it was 21-13. How do you finish with the ball? You have to learn how to finish…you have to learn how to finish, of course when it was 21-10 you didn’t get a replay on fourth down and they called it short. After two plays we intercepted it and then scored a field goal from that drive.
“They’re getting closer to really figuring out how to end the game and end it with a game-defining run. That’s what ends. The moment we play when it matters in the fourth quarter. We’ll do it and for me the next two games are just that: game-defining moments, we’ll be able to make the important plays and get it done, and for me it’s going to be for the future. It’s important.”