Among the many offseason decisions facing the Bears is one that could be considered the most consequential in the recent history of the team. Is Justin Fields the one they should continue with? On the other hand, should they keep trusting him as QB1?
When asked about the pros and disadvantages of resting or playing guys in Week 18, head coach Kyle Shanahan said as much to reporters on Monday.
The Bears' locker room is seemingly hell-bent on keeping third-year signal caller Brandon Fields as their leader going forward, according to recent sources. Regarding Fields, here is what ESPN's Jeremy Fowler has reported.
Fields' "special" playmaking has "absolutely" complicated the Bears' choice on which quarterback to choose in April, according to a source in the front office, as Fowler just reported. The Bears will consider Fields' overall performance in Chicago, taking into account the influence of his supporting cast, which hasn't always been complementary over his three seasons.
Team chemistry is an issue that will be considered. The wounds from the team's recent breakup, which resulted in the departure of its most beloved and effective players, are still visible.
Should the Bears decide to part ways with Fields, one unnamed veteran has already made his disapproval clear.
"It's like, if you get rid of him [Fields], what are we doing?" a Bears veteran asked Fowler. This is similar to what happened last season when they released Rob Quinn, a pass rusher, and Roquan Smith, a linebacker. Our captain was that person. We were aware that we were crumbling.
Eliminating a player is one thing. Eliminating a leader, however, is a another kettle of fish. A locker room might be put at risk by such. Take the 2022 NFL trade deadline as an example; the locker room was impacted when the Bears released Smith and Quinn.