Bears QB Fields Has Separated Shoulder, Status Unclear Against Jets

CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears have made it clear that this season — win or lose — is all about developing quarterback Justin Fields.

How much the second-year star out of Ohio State is able to develop moving forward may be based on a game-by-game scenario. After days of speculation about the severity of the injury to his left shoulder, Fields told reporters on Wednesday that he has a separated shoulder with a partially torn ligament.

Bears coach Matt Eberflus had said earlier this week that Fields’ status for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets was considered day-to-day. Fields was injured in the fourth quarter of last weekend’s 27-24 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, which was sealed when Fields threw an interception that ended a potential game-tying or game-winning scoring drive.

Fields appeared to be in pain after he was hit on a designed quarterback run on the first play of the drive, and had his shoulder evaluated after the loss. Multiple media reports indicated his shoulder may be separated or dislocated, which put Fields’ status for the game against the Jets and the remainder of the season in question.

On Wednesday, without getting into the specifics of the injury, Eberflus said that Fields is still considered day-to-day and that it would be up to how he felt on Game Day to determine whether he would play. Eberflus said Fields was cleared to practice on Wednesday.

“It’s just (about) how he’s feeling,” Eberflus said. “How he’s feeling when he’s moving, when he’s throwing and when he’s just going about his business as operating as a quarterback.

“If he’s ready to play, he’s going to play. He feels that way, we feel that way. If he’s ready to go, feels good about it, he’s going to play in the game. The reason is, we’re trying to win the game.”

Fields, known for his competitiveness, said in a news conference on Wednesday that he wants to play if he can, based on the effort he sees from his teammates. Fields said he has undergone testing with the Bears medical staff since Sunday to test shoulder strength and mobility.

He said the biggest limitation comes with certain movements that “hurts it a good bit”.

“I just feel like if I can play and that I’m not furthering the risk of injury and can do what I need to be able to protect myself, that will be good enough to play (Sunday),” Fields said.

Fields said he can’t predict on whether the injury could get worse without knowing what kind of hits he will take against the Jets. Eberflus said he will prepare backup quarterback Trevor Siemian to possibly start against the Jets if needed. Fields said on Wednesday that he would probably not play if the game was Wednesday, as he was still experiencing pain.

He said his status will be determined how he feels in coming days, but won't play if it means putting himself at risk to miss further time should he re-injure the shoulder Sunday in New York.

“We’re just kind of playing it by ear,” Fields said Wednesday, adding, “it’s about seeing how my body feels, listening to my body and making sure I’m not forcing anything. Just seeing how it goes.”