49ers news: Power ranking Trey Lance, other rookie QBs through 3 weeks
By Peter Panacy
Justin Fields. 4. player. 57. . .
No. 4: Justin Fields, Chicago Bears
Missing out on Zach Wilson, many a San Francisco fan would have been OK with either Trey Lance or Justin Fields, the latter eventually going to the Chicago Bears at No. 11 overall, so long as the 49ers’ pick at No. 3 wasn’t Alabama’s Mac Jones, right?
Bears head coach Matt Nagy’s decision to start the veteran, Andy Dalton, over Fields to begin the year somewhat paralleled the Niners’ own choice to let Lance sit behind Jimmy Garoppolo, at least for the time being. But a knee injury to Dalton in Week 2 forced Nagy’s hand, giving Fields two extensive appearances on the field the last two weeks.
The results? Not pretty.
Sure, Fields has had moments where you can see why he’s a first-round pick. But behind an atrocious Bears offensive line, Fields’ collegiate tendencies of holding onto the ball for too long were on full display, particularly against the Cleveland Browns where he took nine sacks and completed just six passes on 20 attempts for 68 yards.
Chicago might need a complete offensive overhaul this offseason, including replacing Nagy, who hasn’t done much to put Fields in a position where he can be successful.
And with Dalton likely poised to return, Fields is probably going to be relegated to backup status once more.