Chicago Bears: Matt Nagy makes the call between Justin Fields and Andy Dalton

The Chicago Bears have announced their starting quarterback for Sunday’s game vs. the Cleveland Browns.

“Bears coach Matt Nagy says Andy Dalton is still battling through his injury. Justin Fields will start Sunday,” Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune tweeted.

It’s Justin Fields time in Chicago and Ohio State fans throughout the country will rejoice.

Andy Dalton, the Chicago Bears’ starting quarterback, was injured on a first-quarter quarterback rush in which he stepped out of bounds untouched. He came up limping after the play, and ultimately hobbled to the sidelines. The injury and its severity remain unclear, though it appears to be a non-contact, lower-left leg injury. The Bears have replaced Dalton with Fields, their first-round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft.

After being taken 11th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, Fields came into a Bears system that had recently signed a veteran quarterback in Dalton. Head coach Matt Nagy eventually named Dalton the starter, and he has shut down any debate on the topic, simply stating that Fields’ time will come.

Although Fields has yet to start an NFL game, he scored his first-career NFL touchdown in Week 1 of the regular season, carrying the ball from three yards out for a score. Nagy’s plan, barring an injury of this sort to Dalton, appeared to be easing Fields into the rotation but the football gods had different plans.