The Chicago Bears are not off to a great start versus the Tennessee Titans and we cannot put much blame on rookie quarterback Justin Fields. Instead, the Bears’ offensive line woes are continuing despite this being the first game that all of the projected opening day starters are playing together. What makes it worse, the Bears starting offensive line is playing against the Titans’ backups.
As I write this, Justin Fields is 4/6 for 22 yards. He also has one run for another seven. Fields has made a few good throws, one to Riley Ridley and two to the blossoming wide receiver Rodney Adams. He also had a nice scramble as the pocket collapsed around him for a seven-yard gain. The decision-making has looked sharp, but the opportunities and reps have been very limited.
Here is the problem, the team cannot get anything going again and the offensive line is the biggest culprit. We better hope that Jason Peters and Germain Ifedi are just rusty. Ifedi is coming off the PUP list with a hip flexor and looks awful. He’s let up a third-down sack and also had a false start that led to a back-to-back penalty by starting center Sam Mustipher.
The Chicago Bears offensive line is not helping Justin Fields tonight
Jason Peters also hasn’t looked too good. Many were concerned about bringing in a 39-year old offensive tackle to start on the left side. He was not with another club and now we are watching what age does to even a six-time All-Pro left tackle.
It’s very late in the offseason, but I would not be surprised if Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy look to other teams’ castoffs as we see teams cut their roster down to 53 by August 31, 2021. The other option and one I have been pounding the table for is to sign Russell Okung to play left tackle. Okung is much younger than Peters. He may not have as great of a career when things are all said and done, but Okung will probably make a bigger impact now than Peters.
Again, we better hope that the offensive line is just shaking the rust off. This team needs to put the best players around Justin Fields going forward. Maybe this is indeed why Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy are not starting Justin Fields over Andy Dalton to start the season. With the Teven Jenkins injury (back), this offensive line is not what the front office envisioned.
Are they protecting Justin Fields and the future or are they just being stubborn and playing Andy Dalton because of prior promises? Tough to tell at this point, but my guess is that it has more to do with the promises even though Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace owe Andy Dalton nothing but the $10 million he’s guaranteed.