ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter defended Chicago Bear’s head coach Matt Nagy to not start rookie quarterback Justin Fields.
The Chicago Bears began their 2021 season with a rather demoralizing 34-14 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Quarterback Andy Dalton started the season-opener for the Bears, and head coach Matt Nagy did sprinkle in rookie first-round signal caller Justin Fields for a couple of plays. During and following the game, Bears fans called for Nagy to bench Dalton in favor of Fields.
Prior to Monday night’s game between the Baltimore Ravens and Las Vegas Raiders, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter passionately discussed why Nagy is not yet starting Fields. Bears fans may not like what they hear.
Bears: Adam Schefter defends Matt Nagy’s decision to star Andy Dalton over Justin Fields
Schefter says that the Bears’ plan is to “not break this quarterback” before they believe is ready. Hence why Nagy put him in the game a variety of times, but not giving him a full series to work with. So Bears fans will need to continue to be patient.
In his NFL debut, Fields completed all two of his passing attempts for a total of 10 yards, while also taking his lone carry into the end zone for a three-yard touchdown.
Dalton, on the other hand, did struggle in his first official start under center for Chicago. Dalton completed 27-of-38 pass attempts for 206 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception, which came on the opening drive after his pass was tipped.
The Bears are not the only team that is starting their rookie quarterback right away. The San Francisco 49ers have Trey Lance as the backup to Jimmy Garoppolo, and head coach Kyle Shanahan is doing the same by bringing in Lance on a select number of plays during their Week 1 matchup against the Detroit Lions.
You can expect to see the same formula from Nagy in Week 2 when the Bears take on the Cincinnati Bengals.