How the Chicago Bears rookies performed against the Lions

Chicago Bears (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
Chicago Bears (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

I don’t want to toss cold water on my fellow Chicago Bears fans, but we knew this was coming. Matt Nagy gave up playcalling as he should, and the Chicago Bears beat the Detriot Lions easily because they are the Lions.

Now that we have that out of the way, let us get into the performances. Everything will start and end with Justin Fields this year and into the future for the Chicago Bears.

How did the Chicago Bears rookies perform versus the Lions?

If you didn’t watch the game, just check the highlights because that is how Justin Fields played. Justin Fields finished 11 of 17 for 209 yards with an interception. If you read the stat line, you would have thought he had a bad game. Fields looked every bit of himself at Ohio State as a rookie quarterback.

Darnell Mooney was Field’s number one option, as expected. I need to clear something up because a popular podcast on YouTube figured Fields would utilize the tight ends because he had in college. I like the addition of Cole Kmet (not the draft spot selection), but Justin Fields never used his tight ends in college.

Those wondering when we will see significant numbers from the tight end group will have to wait until Fields learns how to use them. Some might remember Justin Fields telling Jimmy Graham that he needs to get open during training camp. Last year Jeremy Ruckert (tight end) had 151 receiving yards compared to Chris Olave’s 729 in a limited season. In 2019 the tight ends combined 270 yards on the season.

Justin Fields is a deep ball passer that loves showing off his arm and accuracy.

Try not to expect him to attack the short middle of the field constantly until he learns the NFL a little bit more. Alright, back to discussing the game. Fields completed five of seven passes over 15 yards. The Chicago Bears haven’t seen a passer do that since Mitch Trubisky torched the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2018.

Trubiksy did that in year two under Nagy against a lousy defense, while Justin Fields did that against a bad defense during his rookie season. The offense’s future looks bright with Justin Fields running the show alongside Darnell Mooney and David Montgomery.

Khalil Herbert has not taken a kick return to the house but continues his strike of 30-yard kick returns. Herbert is not Cordarrelle Patterson but shows that he is the future from now on as a kick returner.

With David Montgomery out for a month, Herbert will likely get some time to show what he can do in the running back role. Herbert is eerily similar to Darrell Henderson. Time will only tell what he can truly become with the opportunity he is about to receive.

Eddie Goldman was back in the fold, so Khyiris Tonga’s role was reduced. Tonga did gain a tackle in the game but wasn’t on the field enough to make an impact. How about those sophomores, though? Trevis Gipson, Jaylon Johnson, and Darnell Mooney — keep it up!

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