Chicago Bears at New York Jets: Everything you need to know about the Week 12 game
It won’ t be a battle of 2021 first-round quarterbacks Sunday when the 3-8 Chicago Bears take on the 6-4 New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Don’ t worry, Cole Kmet said, Trevor Siemian will not take it as an insult if you say he is unlikely to keep the ball on a zone read and motor 60 yards through the Jets defense Sunday. The Bears offense figures to take on a different look if...
It won’t be a battle of 2021 first-round quarterbacks Sunday when the 3-8 Chicago Bears take on the 6-4 New York Jets at MetLife Stadium (noon, Fox-32). Jets starter Zach Wilson? Benched for Mike White. Bears starter Justin Fields? Officially questionable with a left shoulder injury, with multiple reports stating backup Trevor Siemian is expected to start.
Here’s what to know as kickoff approaches.
Latest Bears news | Get Brad Biggs’ 10 thoughts first | Sign up for our free Bears alerts | Follow us on Instagram
Change it up
Don’t worry, Cole Kmet said, Trevor Siemian will not take it as an insult if you say he is unlikely to keep the ball on a zone read and motor 60 yards through the Jets defense Sunday.
“Definitely more of a drop-back guy, get the ball out, timing,” Kmet said. “We’re not going to be running QB power with Trevor.”
The Bears offense figures to take on a different look if Siemian is called on to replace Justin Fields, who is questionable with a separated left shoulder suffered on a quarterback sweep near the end of Sunday’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
Two sources told the Tribune that Siemian is likely to start. ESPN also reported late Saturday that the Bears are expected to start Siemian over Fields, while NFL Network said Fields would warm up Sunday but the Bears playing him is a “long shot.”
It’s also likely to look different if Fields plays. The Bears surely don’t want to put him at risk of making the injury — which includes a partially torn ligament — worse. With either quarterback, the Bears likely will need to throw the ball more.
4 key questions
The Bears on Sunday will play at MetLife Stadium for the second time this season, facing the Jets in East Rutherford, N.J. They lost to the Giants 20-12 in Week 4.
The big question this week is the availability of quarterback Justin Fields — who suffered a separated left shoulder and torn ligament in Week 11 against the Falcons.
As the game approaches, our team of writers digs in to four key topics surrounding the 3-8 Bears.
Miss anything this week? Catch up before kickoff.
- 5 things to watch in the Bears-Jets game — plus our Week 12 predictions
- Bears list QB Justin Fields as questionable for Sunday’s game — and backup Trevor Siemian says he’ll be ‘ready to go’ if needed
- Robert Saleh on Bears QB Justin Fields: ‘If he plays, we’re going to hit him’
- Column: Why Chicago sports owners should be grateful to have such loyal fans of their consistently underperforming teams
- 3 things we heard from the Bears, including Lucas Patrick’s season-ending toe surgery and Justin Fields’ apology to the defense
- Jaquan Brisker lands in the concussion protocol after twice being allowed to return
- Jets bench Zach Wilson, Mike White named starter vs. Bears
- Bears Q&A: Are the coaches eyeing the future with Justin Fields’ usage? How does the Chase Claypool trade look after 3 weeks?
- Devin Hester is among 28 semifinalists for the Hall of Fame in the former Bears returner’s 2nd year of eligibility
- Bears QB rewind: After another close loss, Justin Fields’ shoulder injury could clear the stage for backup Trevor Siemian
()