The Chicago Bears are trying to stay afloat in the NFC despite several punctures in the life raft. They’re 1-5 with a pivotal game on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders. Unfortunately, they will have to win it with rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent under center. Justin Fields dislocated his right thumb in the loss to Minnesota last weekend. Initial fears were he might require surgery to get it fixed. Thankfully that option was avoided. Rumors have suggested he could return after this week, but that hope appears dead.
Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reported on Saturday that Fields is expected to miss multiple weeks with this injury. What isn’t clear is how many. If the Bears felt the injury was severe, he would be placed on short-term Injured Reserve. That he hasn’t suggests they’re holding out hope he could return sooner than the four games he would miss. This means the team is hoping he can be back for the road game in New Orleans on November 5th or home against Carolina on November 9th.
“The Bears will be without Justin Fields for multiple weeks, but there are no current plans to place the third-year quarterback on injured reserve, sources tell CBS Sports.
On Friday, Chicago ruled Fields out for Sunday’s game against the Raiders, and undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent will get the first start of his career. Fields has a dislocated thumb on his right hand that has made it difficult to grip the ball, and he didn’t practice at all this week.
The minimum number of games a player must miss after being placed on injured reserve is four. Indeed, it’s possible Fields winds up missing four games. But his importance to the team weighs heavily in the decision to keep him off short-term injured reserve in the event he can heal more quickly than expected.”
