Thursday night’s primetime showcase will be down a storyline.
In the final injury report ahead of their Week 10 matchup against the Carolina Panthers, the Chicago Bears have listed quarterback Justin Fields as doubtful due to his thumb injury. Per ESPN senior NFL insider Adam Schefter, that status will force yet another outing from rookie Tyson Bagent—who is expected to make his fourth start of the campaign.
Bagent was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Bears out of Shepherd University this past spring. Chicago has gone 1-2 in the 23-year-old’s trio of starts, where he’s completed 66.7 percent of his throws for 614 yards, three touchdowns and five interceptions.
Fields, who dislocated his thumb in Week 6, has amassed 1,201 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and six interceptions along with 420 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in 2023. Head coach Matt Eberflus told reporters on Wednesday that his usual starting quarterback has not been medically cleared to play.
Prior to being taken by the Bears with the 11th overall pick in 2021, Fields was passed up by the passer-needy Panthers at the eighth overall spot. Carolina, instead, opted for cornerback Jaycee Horn—who will also not be in uniform for Thursday.
