Andy Dalton will be starter until Justin Fields forces their hand

It appears Andy Dalton will be the Chicago Bears quarterback until rookie Justin Fields forces their hand, despite the former Ohio State quarterback living up to expectations.

NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport offered his take on the matter.

“Andy Dalton essentially until there’s no choice in the building but to make Justin Fields the starter,” Rapoport said. “And if that sounds vague that’s basically what it is with any rookie quarterback or any quarterback competition. When Andy Dalton was signed, they knew he was going to be the starter and when they drafted Justin Fields, they let Andy Dalton know that they’re drafting Justin Fields and everyone knew at that point the veteran was going to be the starting quarterback…Despite the fact that Justin Fields has had some unbelievable moments in the preseason, it’s not like he has beaten Andy Dalton outright just on the field either.”

Rapoport added how the situation could play out once the season starts.

“However, once there’s some struggles, if there are some struggles for this team, then it is simply going to be the entire world of Chicago calling for this very, very talented rookie,” he said. “Let me be clear, Justin Fields has been everything the Bears thought. He’s got swag, he’s got leadership, he’s got talent, he’s got intelligence.”

In week two of the preseason, Dalton went 11 for 17 for 146 yards and one touchdown and an interception. Fields went 9 for 19 for 80 yards and added 46 rushing yards on just four rushes.

In week one of the preseason, Fields shined, completing 14 of 20 passes for 142 yards and a touchdown and took five carries for 33 yards and another touchdown. Dalton got just a handful of reps, going 2 of 4 for 18 yards.

Justin Fields was drafted by the Bears in the 2021 NFL Draft from Ohio State where Fields helped the Buckeyes to a 20-2 record and back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances in his two seasons. In his two-year Ohio State career, Fields threw for 5,373 yards and 63 touchdowns. On the ground, he rushed for 867 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Dalton was signed by the Bears after one year in Dallas. Dalton started nine games for the Cowboys in relief of Dak Prescott in week five after Prescott went down with a season-ending ankle injury. Prior to his time in Dallas, Dalton spent nine seasons in Cincinnati, where he was drafted in 2011. In his time in Cincinnati, Dalton started 133 games and made three Pro Bowls.