Justin Fields Suffers Dislocated Shoulder

Justin Fields has been a major talking point around the league given his improved play in recent weeks. His health is now a question mark, however, in the wake of a shoulder injury he suffered Sunday.

The former first-round pick dislocated his left shoulder, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). When speaking to the media Monday, head coach Matt Eberflus said that Fields is considered day-to-day (Twitter link via ESPN’s Courtney Cronin). Rather alarmingly, however, he didn’t rule out the possibility that the injury will be season-ending for the Ohio State product.

The 23-year-old was carted off the field to undergo evaluation, and later underwent an X-ray and received an IV (Twitter link via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune). Fields mentioned after the game that he was dealing with a significant amount of pain.

More clarity on the matter will likely come on Wednesday when an official designation will be required upon Fields’ participation (or lack thereof) in practice. Especially this early in the week, Eberflus’ remarks could simply be a means of keeping the availability of the 2021 first-rounder in the air as the team prepares to face the Jets in Week 12.

Any absence, or even limitation, for Fields would be crippling to the Bears’ offense, though. After an uninspiring rookie season, the former No. 11 pick has become far more consistent in recent games in particular. While Chicago’s run-heavy scheme has limited Fields to just one game over 200 passing yards, his passer rating of 86.2 represents a sharp improvement from 2021. Most notably, of course, he has been hugely productive with his legs, totaling 834 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.

Especially if this injury proves serious, the rate at which Fields has run (122 carries through the first 11 games of the season) will become even more of a talking point as the Bears’ scheme under new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy continues to evolve. If Fields is unable to suit up, the team will turn to veteran Trevor Siemian in his place, after he signed a two-year deal this offseason.

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