Bears haven’t yet made determination on Justin Fields’ availability vs. Lions

The Chicago Bears were back at Halas Hall on Monday for a short practice ahead of a Week 11 matchup against the Detroit Lions.

As you would expect, head coach Matt Eberflus was hounded with questions about the status of quarterback Justin Fields, who’s missed the past four games with a right thumb injury.

While Fields was ruled out for last Thursday night’s game against the Carolina Panthers, the expectation was he’d have a good chance to make his return against the Lions some 10 days later.

Eberflus didn’t provide any real injury updates Monday — saying he’ll address those Wednesday, when required. But he did say the Bears haven’t made a determination about Fields’ availability for Sunday’s game in Detroit, but that will come as practice gets underway later this week. Eberflus said they want to see what he can do in team drills and not just individual work, which they conducted during Monday’s light practice.

“We just need more time,” Eberflus said. “We need team [drills] work, we need that and we’ll eventually get there. We’re just not there right now.”

Lions Week begins with Justin Fields throwing at Monday’s practice pic.twitter.com/VCEY3SV3a9

— CHGO Bears (@CHGO_Bears) November 13, 2023

Eberflus stressed the importance of 11-on-11 drills and seeing Fields “functioning in the game of football.”

“That’s the big part of it and that’s really the only update I have,” Eberflus said. “Once we see him in the game of football, going against the scout team, taking snaps, and playing full speed, we’ll make a determination. But it’s not there today.”

Fields suffered a dislocated right thumb back on Oct. 15, and he’s missed the previous four outings. The key with Fields has been grip strength, something that he’s progressed with. Eberflus said Fields wasn’t medically cleared to play last Thursday night. And he declined to reveal whether Fields has been medically cleared as of Monday. That answer will come later this week.

Rookie Tyson Bagent has started the past four games in Fields’ absence, leading the team to a 2-2 record. If Fields still isn’t ready for his return on Sunday, it’ll be Bagent making his fifth NFL start.