Fields out Multiple Weeks with Dislocated Right Thumb

After the past few decades of play, the Chicago Bears should change their names to the Bad News Bears. Time after time, the Bears find themselves in a complicated situation that, more often than not, is self-inflicted. That said, this team is unquestionably short on luck and this is yet another example. Quarterback Justin Fields will be out for multiple weeks as he deals with a dislocated thumb on his throwing hand— a devastating blow to Fields and the Bears.

The young QB showed real signs of progress before leaving the game last week. Albeit against two of the worst defenses in the NFL in Denver and Washington, the improvement was still there. Fields completed barely over half of his passes but threw for 282 yards and four touchdowns. The week before against Denver, he completed 80% of his passes for four more touchdowns, 335 yards and an interception. The eight touchdowns in those two games were more than his first three-game totals combined. To further put the improvement in perspective, Fields threw 17 touchdowns in 15 starts last season. Fields's rushing ability has also stayed strong, as he has rushed for over 40 yards in four of six games this year.

Quarterback Tyson Bagent replaced Fields in the third quarter of last week's game. He will look to get his first career start this Sunday vs the Raiders. Bagent was shaky at best in his two quarters of play last week. He fumbled the ball after taking a sack, which Minnesota recovered for a touchdown. Bagent did manage to lead a scoring drive that ended with a 1-yard touchdown rush by him. Unfortunately, when Chicago had a strong drive going late in the fourth, Bagent spoiled it and threw an interception to lose the game. The rookie will look to take the positives of his first taste of NFL action and put them to work in his first career start.

Chicago's season is one in question, as this team is not in place for contention, even with Justin Fields. Without him, winning is in serious doubt moving forward. Chicago does have a silver lining to this; they own their first-round pick, along with Carolina's from the Bryce Young draft pick trade this offseason. Potentially two top-five picks if the two teams' seasons progress like they have thus far.