Chicago Bears plan to start rookie QB Justin Fields in the last game of the season — if his ankle is better: ‘It’s always going to come down to his health’

Chicago Bears manager Matt Nagy would similar to commencement backmost Justin Fields successful the play finale against the Minnesota Vikings astatine U.S. Bank Stadium, provided the rookie has recovered capable from an ankle wounded that kept him retired the past 2 games.

Nagy said past week Fields was getting person to a return, but was constricted by symptom portion doing shot movements — and the Bears wanted him to beryllium arsenic adjacent to 100% arsenic imaginable earlier helium played.

Fields injured his ankle successful the Week 15 nonaccomplishment to the Vikings, and Nagy primitively was hopeful Fields wouldn’t miss time. But the Bears turned to Nick Foles and Andy Dalton implicit the adjacent 2 weeks — 2 victories — implicit the Seattle Seahawks and New York Giants.

The Bears volition measure wherever Fields is astatine the adjacent 2 days arsenic they instrumentality to practices Wednesday.

“It’s ever going to travel down to his health,” Nagy said. “It’s ever going to travel down to medically wherever he’s astatine and wherever we consciousness he’s at.”

The Bears and Vikings some person been eliminated from playoff contention, but Nagy thinks the crippled could inactive beryllium important for Fields arsenic helium heads into his archetypal NFL offseason.

Fields hasn’t played successful a Bears triumph since the Las Vegas Raiders connected Oct. 10. He missed 4 games arsenic helium dealt with cracked ribs and the ankle wounded implicit the past six weeks, including 3 of the easiest matchups connected the Bears docket against the Detroit Lions, Seahawks and Giants. The Bears won each 3 of those games.

“He’s enactment a batch of clip and effort into this year, into processing and becoming amended arsenic a quarterback,” Nagy said. “What this volition alteration him to bash is decorativeness connected a precocious enactment and bash everything helium tin to person a large week of signifier mentally, physically, beryllium determination for his teammates, which I deliberation says a batch for these guys.

“These guys are battling. Regardless of our grounds close now, you’re seeing players that privation to play. You’re seeing players that attraction astir their job. You’re seeing players that attraction astir their teammates. And you’re seeing players that attraction astir winning. And truthful Justin’s a portion of that.”

Over 10 starts and 12 appearances, Fields has completed 159 of 270 passes (58.9%) for 1,870 yards, 7 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 36 sacks and a 73.2 passer rating. He besides has 72 carries for 420 yards and 2 touchdowns.