Fields prepares to make his first start since October 15 | Injury Update
Bears quarterback Justin Fields was a full participant in practice all week and was not given an injury designation for Sunday’s game versus the Lions in Detroit.
As a result, Fields is set to make his first start after missing the last four games with a dislocated right thumb he suffered Oct. 15 in a loss to the Vikings.
“I thought he improved every single day,” said coach Matt Eberflus. “You get that timing with the receivers on the concepts you’re running that particular week. I thought he got his footwork back where it needed to be. And I thought the accuracy was good, got better as the week went. I thought he was good.”
Fields’ return has created a buzz at Halas Hall.
“There’s an excitement, no doubt,” Eberflus said. “I think that certainly having our starter back is definitely a boost. You could see the defense getting excited about it and talking to him on the side in the building, and certainly the offensive guys were excited about it. You could see it in walkthrough how the energy was there.”
No one is more excited about Fields returning than the quarterback himself.
“He’s been champing at the bit to play,” Eberflus said. “He really tried to play last week [against the Panthers]. It just wasn’t there, wasn’t ready yet. With that longer break, he’s got a chance to really get back in there. You could see for sure that he was always asking the trainers, ‘Hey, when I can get back?’ We did it right. We worked him back in there. We’re excited he’s back.”
The Bears offense will also benefit from the return of two other key starters: running back Khalil Herbert and right guard Nate Davis.
Eberflus revealed Friday that Herbert will be activated off injured reserve Saturday and play Sunday. The 2021 sixth-round pick from Virginia Tech was a full participant in practice all week after missing the last five games with an ankle injury. Starting the first five contests this year, he rushed for 272 yards on 51 carries and caught 10 passes for 83 yards and one TD.
“Khalil Herbert will be activated tomorrow,” Eberflus said. “I’m excited about that. Had a good week of practice. Certainly excited to have him back.”
Davis practiced without restrictions all week and was not given an injury designation. He’ll make his first start after missing the last four games with an ankle injury he sustained versus the Vikings. With Davis returning, Teven Jenkins will move from right guard to left guard and Lucas Patrick will remain at center.
“Nate’s been looking good all week,” Eberflus said. “We like that. We like the combination we have at offensive line right now. Looks strong. [He] looks good in there. We certainly are pleased with that, how that progressed during the week.
