Ohio State Football: When Justin Fields could get first his NFL start

The former Ohio State football player has looked great in camp and in preseason games. When could he make his first career NFL start in a regular-season game?

Justin Fields was amazing in his two years with the Ohio State football program. He did everything that Ryan Day asked him to do and more. It’s any wonder that he dropped down to 10 where the Bears were able to trade up to get him. He was the fourth quarterback taken!!!

Anyway, he has looked great in a Bears uniform. Every report out of camp says he has been excellent. He even played well in his preseason debut. Still despite all of this, Bears coach Matt Nagy refuses to start the rookie and claims it is Andy Dalton’s starting job.

It doesn’t make sense for a coach that is fighting for his job to start a player like Dalton. Dalton isn’t a bad player. In fact, he’s made three Pro Bowls. But he doesn’t have the upside that Fields does. He doesn’t have the same set of skills or the ability to be truly great like he does.

You would think Nagy would play Fields right away and tell management he needs time with him to develop him. But he’s sticking with Dalton. Now the only question is, does he get fired before Fields gets his first NFL start? I’m going to say no, but it’s close.

The former Ohio State football player should play as soon as possible

When could Fields possibly get his first start? Looking at the schedule a few dates pop out. The earliest that I could see the Bears putting him out there is Week 5 against the Raiders. That would give Dalton four games against the Rams, Bengals, Browns, and Lions.

If Dalton can’t go at least 2-2 in those games, and I don’t think he will, then Fields should see the field the next week. It doesn’t make sense for him not to start his development as early as he can, especially when you invested the kind of draft capital that the Bears did.

Even though Fields is nursing an injury at the moment, that should be taken care of soon. He’s too good of a player to sit on the bench. The fans already want him to start day one. I understand why he’s not, and it makes some sense.

But if Fields, doesn’t hit the field soon, Nagy could be without a job very quickly.