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Bear Necessities: Offense gets boost with expected return of Justin Fields

Alyssa Barbieri
·2 min read
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Bears quarterback Justin Fields has shown his incredible resiliency over his first two seasons in Chicago. This season is no different, as Fields is expected to make his return to the starting lineup after missing one game due to a separated left shoulder.

Fields’ absence was evident in the Bears’ 31-10 loss to the Jets in Week 12, where they were held scoreless in the second half. Now, Chicago is preparing to get back one of the league’s most exciting young players heading into a divisional matchup against the Packers.

“When you get your starting quarterback back and a guy that’s electric like that and makes a lot of plays for our football team, it’s obviously a big boost in the arm to the whole football team,” said coach Matt Eberflus. “Guys are excited out there, not only the offensive guys but the defense and special teams. Everybody’s excited that he’s out there moving around and being himself. [We] certainly missed him last week, so [it’s] exciting.”

Fields suffered a left shoulder injury on the final series of a Week 11 loss to the Falcons. But he was cleared to practice just a few days later, where he was a limited participant before being ruled inactive just before game time.

Now, Fields is back to 100 percent, per Eberflus, and in just two weeks. Fields’ toughness hasn’t gone unnoticed by his teammates.

“For me, it’s no surprise,” said cornerback Jaylon Johnson, via NBC Sports Chicago. “I feel like he’s a soldier. I feel like he’s going to be out there whenever he can. I feel like he feels good enough to be out there, he looks good at practice and being back to himself. I look forward to him at [Aaron Rodgers] going at it.”

After starting the week as limited in practice, Fields was a full participant on Thursday and Friday. And, according to his teammates, he’s back to form.

“He looked like Justin,” running back David Montgomery said.

Story originally appeared on Bears Wire