Video Shows Bears Coaches Masterfully Handling Justin Fields’ Struggles
Justin Fields isn’t having the best start to the 2022 season. He is the worst-rated starting quarterback in the NFL, having failed even to crack 300 passing yards total in three games. That is hard to do in this era of football. It’s already leading to speculation about what the problem is. Some are starting to wonder if Fields has the capacity to handle pro defenses. Too often, he has looked overwhelmed by the speed and complexity being thrown at him.
One can imagine the frustration he’s feeling. Fields is a fierce competitor. He hates playing poorly almost as much as he hates losing. That is normal for any quarterback. His performance against the Houston Texans was another low point, barely cracking 100 yards with two bad interceptions. He was mic’d up by the NFL for that game, and the cameras caught him on the sideline. It was apparent how frustrated he was.
To his credit, Fields didn’t shift blame anywhere else. He owned up to the issues as any good leader would. The most encouraging aspect was how the Chicago Bears coaches handled him. Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy encouraged him during the game, promising not to take the ball out of his hands. Then after the win, head coach Matt Eberflus had some words of wisdom for him as well.
Justin Fields’ status remains unchanged.
He is the starting quarterback of the Bears. The coaches are prepared to see this thing through. The team is 2-1 despite the passing woes. That should offer encouragement more than anything. If they can still win games when he’s not at his best, imagine what they might become if he starts playing better. It would be easy for Eberflus and Getsy to feel frustrated too. However, they know abandoning ship on Fields now is irresponsible.
It’s less than a month in the new offensive system. The QB had to start over from scratch. Not everybody picks things up instantly. He needs time. The best thing to do is stick this thing out. Eberflus and GM Ryan Poles have to know for sure whether Justin Fields can be their guy. Those answers lay in letting the QB play out 2022. They’ll need to discuss alternatives if he continues looking like he did against Houston.
If he turns things around, it’ll be a sign he has what it takes to handle the highs and lows of the NFL. Fields has 14 games left to figure this thing out. The coaches remain firmly behind him.