Chicago Bears: Justin Fields’ case getting boost from rookie QBs
By Ryan Heckman
Based on Trevor Lawrence’s play, the Chicago Bears should start Justin Fields
Looking at the play of Trevor Lawrence through two games, he’s been good and bad. Lawrence has made some tremendous throws, while also making a few bad decisions. With Lawrence, plenty of folks will continue to throw out the Peyton Manning comparison, stating that Manning set the rookie record for interceptions in a season.
The Jaguars had no choice but to start Lawrence, being the number one overall pick and arguably the best quarterback prospect since Andrew Luck. Jacksonville was never going to conduct a competition, as evidenced by their willingness to trade Gardner Minshew — who is a good quarterback, by the way.
The Bears, on the other hand, have done the exact opposite. Instead of putting faith in Fields, they’ve kept even their third-string veteran on the roster in Nick Foles while calling the rookie their “scout team” quarterback prior to the season.
Jacksonville’s handling of Lawrence hasn’t been perfect to this point, as Urban Meyer seemed to be conducting a competition throughout camp. But, once it was time to crown Lawrence, Meyer did so and even traded Minshew.
So far, Lawrence has thrown four touchdowns in his first two games. Tossing an average of two scores per game as a rookie is nothing to bat an eye at. Although, his five interceptions look pretty ugly — that’s a rookie quarterback for you. Look, Lawrence threw for 332 yards in his first career start. No matter what, you can’t take that from him.
Rookie quarterbacks are going to have growing pains, but teams have to roll with those and continue to develop them — as should the Bears with Fields. Lawrence, Jones and Wilson haven’t done anything so far that Fields couldn’t do if given the chance, period.