Bears’ Nagy reverses course, names Fields starting QB

CHICAGO (UPI) — Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy changed course Wednesday and revealed that rookie quarterback Justin Fields will be the team’s starter moving forward, regardless of veteran Andy Dalton’s health.

Throughout the off-season and the first few weeks of the regular season, Nagy insisted that Dalton would remain the Bears’ starter at quarterback when healthy. However, Fields’ performance in last week’s 24-14 win over the Detroit Lions made the franchise rethink its plan.

“After this past weekend with Justin and the growth that we saw, the discussions that we had was to be able to go in this direction,” Nagy told reporters.

Fields completed 11 of his 17 pass attempts for 209 yards with one interception against the Lions, but the Ohio State product had five passes that went for 20-plus yards as the Bears’ offense rebounded from a bad outing against the Cleveland Browns in the previous week.

“It is a big decision, but we feel very good about it and are looking forward to it,” Nagy said.

Fields has completed 48.1% of his throws for 347 yards and two interceptions this season. He has added 17 rushing attempts for 55 yards and one score.

Dalton started the Bears’ first two games, but he sustained a bone bruise in his left knee during the first half of the team’s Week 2 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. He has been inactive the last two games.

Reporting by Connor Grott