LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent will start his fourth straight game in place of Justin Fields, who is recovering from a dislocated thumb on his throwing hand.
Although Fields is listed as doubtful for Thursday night’s game against the Carolina Panthers on the Bears’ final injury report, coach Matt Eberflus said Chicago’s starting quarterback will not play.
“We have to give him one more day,” Eberflus said in clarifying why Fields is listed as doubtful instead of ruled out. «Give it one more day. But he is working hard and is improving every day, so we will see where he goes.
The field has not been cleared by the Bears’ medical staff, but was listed as a limited participant in this week’s practice, two days of which were toured. Eberflus said Fields has had no setbacks with his thumb and “could” go through a pregame workout at Soldier Field on Thursday afternoon.
“It’s getting better, though,” Eberflus said. «Accuracy is improving. He’s throwing better. And it’s starting to do more and more. So we’ll see where it goes. At this time, we classify it as doubtful. And we’ll see where it goes.”
When Fields returned to practice on Friday and began throwing, he said his grip strength was not fully recovered and he experienced some pain while gripping the ball. Eberflus said Fields’ grip strength, accuracy and “ability to function as a quarterback” are “coming close.”
With 10 days between Chicago’s games against Carolina and the Detroit Lions, the Bears hope Fields will continue pitching during the mini-bye week to put himself in position for a possible return in Week 11.
“He’s just going to keep doubling down and making his shots and making everything, like all the guys will,” Eberflus said. «Preparing for our next game. Everyone has to put in their workloads. “Our guys do a good job of implementing a plan to get the workloads to get the exercise they need and get to the functionality they need to get ready for the next game.”
Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds will miss his second straight game with a knee injury. Right guard Nate Davis, who has run “a little bit” while recovering from a sprained ankle, and cornerback Terell Smith also won’t play against Carolina.
Running back Khalil Herbert, wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown and cornerback Josh Blackwell participated fully in tours and practices this week and are within their 21-day window to be activated from injured reserve.
Source: ESPN
2023-11-09 07:35:48
#Tyson #Bagent #start #Panthers
