Is Justin Fields playing in Week 18?
The back-and-forth doubts surrounding Justin Fields’ playing status this week didn’t take long.
The Chicago Bears have just lost Justin Fields for their 2022 season.
Head Coach Matt Eberflus told reporters at Halas Hall Wednesday that the quarterback came out of Sunday’s loss to the Lions with a sore hip and is out for Week 18. That means Fields will not play in Sunday’s season finale against the Minnesota Vikings.
After undergoing several tests and an MRI, it appears Fields has a hip strain that would not allow him “to go full speed,” as Eberflus said, but luckily it is not a long-term injury.
Nathan Peterman, who has not started a game since 2018, will start instead for Chicago.
Fields will say goodbye to his 2022 season having completed 60.4 percent of his passes for 2,242 yards with 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He’s also rushed for 1,143 yards with eight touchdowns, with an average of 7.1 yards per carry.
The Ohio State product has shown growth throughout the year, making fans feel good about a Bears’ quarterback for the first time in a while.