The 2023 season is a make-or-break season for Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields. Even if things did not break his way, there had to be no excuses and no second-guessing about whether he could be the man of the franchise. While it has only been two games, it seems pretty easy to see that he will not be the Bears starting quarterback next season, at least not without increased competition.
Is 2023 setting up to be Justin Fields last season as Chicago Bears starter?
The interior offensive line has been banged up, and the defense is not helping. Fans are going to blame Luke Getsy, and he could do better. However, all of that is all behind the fact that Fields simply is not playing winning football.
Justin Fields can still make some plays when things break down, and he has to go into playmaker-mode. However, he cannot play in structure. It is hard to blame Luke Getsy for not calling the runaround and making a play off-script plays. At some point, you have to see Fields play from the pocket.
Fields takes too many sacks and turns the ball over too much. Yes, he faces a lot of pressure, but he is worse than your average quarterback in those scenarios. That is the issue with Fields; he has an elite arm, legs, and physical skills. However, he is below average as a processor in the pocket, protecting the ball with accuracy. A lot of those skills are more important than anything else when it comes to playing quarterback.
The Chicago Bears lost to the Green Bay Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They lost to Jordan Love and Baker Mayfield. Say what you want about the coaching and supporting cast; at some point, if you have the better quarterback you win some of these games.
Mayfield and Love were better than Justin Fields regardless of scheme. These are not elite names, and are questionable quarterbacks competing to start next season as well.
Sitting at 0-2, and with the Carolina Panthers draft pick, the odds are getting high that they will have a couple of valuable first-round picks. It seems crazy to think that the Bears will not look at quarterbacks in the 2024 NFL draft at this point.