Bears quarterback Justin Fields is entering a pivotal third season, where the expectation is he’ll take a step forward in the passing game and prove that Chicago made the right decision to stick with him rather than draft a quarterback.
For the first time since college, Fields is in the same system for the second consecutive season, which has helped him refine the specifics of the offense and his game. But Fields has also taken a step forward as a leader this spring.
Bears left guard Teven Jenkins said Fields is carrying himself like a “10-year vet,” which is pushing his teammates to be on his level.
“Seeing how he commands that huddle and what he wants to see out of all of us,” Jenkins said, “it’s a wake-up call for me that I need to push myself to be on his level because he’s demanding a certain effort out of all of us.”
New right guard Nate Davis, who has only practiced with Fields for two weeks now, already recognizes Fields’ command and leadership and the impact it has on the rest of the offense.
“Just be able to get in the huddle and say, ‘This is what we gotta do. Let’s go ahead and do that,’ kind of relaxes everybody else,” Davis said. “Knowing, ‘OK, we’ve got somebody in charge. He’s been there, he’s done that.’ He’s going to do great things.”
