The Ohio State quarterback is the talk of the town, but his first game will be against a tough Philadelphia Eagles defense.
Justin Fields is the youngest quarterback to start an NFL game since 1970. He will be facing a tough crowd in his first start against the Philadelphia Eagles.
When the Chicago Bears moved up to get Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields in the 2021 NFL Draft, supporters screamed with joy. The devoted faithful’s ecstatic sounds may now begin to cause severe headaches.
Fields, 22, may make his first professional start as soon as Week 3 due to Andy Dalton’s knee injury. Bears supporters, on the other hand, should moderate their expectations ahead of the wunderkind rookie’s big-stage debut.
The moment for Justin Fields to start for the Chicago Bears is almost coming.
Justin Fields of the Chicago Bears has a recent past working against him | Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Fans have been clamoring for Fields to be named the starting quarterback since the Bears selected him in April. Forget about Andy Dalton, the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback who joined the club in March, and Nick Foles, the former Super Bowl MVP who is now the team’s third-string quarterback.
However, Nagy stuck with Dalton, and the Red Rifle started the Bears’ first two games. Fields was at least used in a Week 1 defeat to Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams by the fourth-year head coach, although as a change-of-pace quarterback rather than a player who worked through prolonged drives. On his lone run, the Ohio State product completed both of his throws for 10 yards and scored a 3-yard rushing touchdown.
Then came Week 2, when Dalton suffered a knee injury and had to leave a 20-17 win against Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals. The rookie wearing No. 1 took over as the starting quarterback and completed six of his thirteen throw attempts for 60 yards and an interception. On ten carries, he gained 31 yards running.
In Week 3, if Dalton is unable to defeat Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns, Nagy will almost likely turn to Fields. That would also allow Foles, who was benched for the first two games by the Bears, to return to the backup quarterback job.
Rookie quarterbacks making their debut starts haven’t had a good track record in the past.
Fields’ first professional start is a must-win for Bears supporters, who expect him to dominate. Unfortunately for them, recent NFL history indicates that this is improbable.
Rookie quarterbacks are 47-97 (.326) in their first career starts, according to The Athletic. Only first-year players are eligible, therefore Drew Brees and Tom Brady, who both began their first game as sophomores, aren’t eligible.
In Week 1 of the 2021 season, Mac Jones, Trevor Lawrence, and Zach Wilson all achieved the feat. Burrow and Justin Herbert were both unsuccessful in their first attempts a year ago.
The list might go on forever. From Andrew Luck and Eli Manning to Brandon Weeden and JaMarcus Russell, all of the rookie quarterbacks lost their first starts.
What has history said about rookie quarterbacks and their first starts? Michael Vick, the last quarterback chosen first overall, won his first start as a rookie for the Atlanta Falcons on Nov. 11, 2001. Fields, who was only two years old at the time, may not recall the game.
The good news for Bears supporters is this: In their first season, 37 of the 144 quarterbacks who started a game won. You’ve probably heard of some of the members of that group.
- In a 27-24 win against the Denver Broncos on Dec. 31, 2017, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes completed 22 of 35 passes for 284 yards and an interception.
- Robert Griffin III of Baylor was chosen second overall in the 2012 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. He had 362 yards from scrimmage and two scores in a 40-32 upset win against the New Orleans Saints a few months later.
- On Sept. 7, 2008, Matt Ryan scored his first touchdown as a member of the Atlanta Falcons in a 34-21 victory against the Detroit Lions. Joe Flacco did not throw a touchdown in the Baltimore Ravens’ 17-10 win against the Cincinnati Bengals on that day, but he did score on the ground.
- Last season, former Alabama classmates Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa led the Philadelphia Eagles and Miami Dolphins to wins in their first career starts with the Philadelphia Eagles and Miami Dolphins, respectively.
Were we Fields, we’d strive to imitate Mahomes and Ryan instead of Russell and Weeden. That concept, on the other hand, should certainly apply throughout his whole career.
On Facebook, follow Sportscasting. @sportscasting19 is our Twitter handle.
RELATED: Chicago Bears Fans Will Be Screaming Into Their Pillows In Frustration After Hearing The Latest Report On Justin Fields
Related Tags
- justin fields nfl draft
- justin fields ohio state
- justin fields mock draft
