LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) — The Bears welcome the Panthers to Soldier Field on Thursday for a primetime meeting. Here are three storylines to follow in the game.
Fields (maybe) vs. Young
Early last offseason, the Bears faced a critical decision on their quarterback future. With the No. 1 overall pick in hand, general manager Ryan Poles and his brass surveyed the draft class of young arms before deciding on Justin Fields' future.
In the mind of most talent evaluators, the clear top quarterback in the class was Alabama's Bryce Young. That's whom Panthers coveted, so they sent the Bears a haul of draft capital and star receiver DJ Moore in exchange for the No. 1 overall pick, which they used on Young.
That blockbuster trade will be a focus Thursday as the Bears (2-7) host Young and the Panthers (1-7) at Soldier Field.
Fields’ status for Thursday is uncertain as he continues to recover from a dislocated right thumb, which he suffered in a game on Oct. 15. He continues to progress, though there are a few final hurdles to clear in the short week. The Bears will turn to rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent for a fourth straight start if Fields is unable to play.
Fields has completed 61.7% of his passes for 1,201 yards, 11 touchdowns and six interceptions in six games this season. He enjoyed a two-game stretch in early October in which he threw for eight touchdowns and appeared to be making considerable progress. Then came his injury setback, the latest for Fields in his young career.
The Bears want to utilize their practices this week to get a sense of Fields’ progress and whether he's healthy enough to play Thursday.
The rookie Young has completed 63.9% of his passes for 1,375 yards, eight touchdowns and seven interceptions in seven games. He has struggled in part because of the Panthers’ poor supporting cast around him.
Young has found success in connecting with veteran receiver Adam Thielen, the former longtime Viking who has 62 receptions and four scores in his first year with the Panthers.
Early in his rookie campaign, Young hasn’t made the Bears regret passing on him. However, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud – whom Houston selected with the No. 2 overall pick – might cause them to reflect. Stroud has been a legitimate MVP candidate, completing 62% of his passes for 2,270 yards, 14 touchdowns and one interception in eight games.
Stroud threw for 470 yards and five touchdowns in a come-from-behind 39-37 win against the Buccaneers on Sunday, leading the Texans to their fourth victory of the season. Houston had just three wins all of last season.
The Bears don't play the Texans this season, sparing them a three-hour spotlight on their decision to pass on Stroud. But come Thursday, they will match up with the top pick in Young.
Run away
The Bears rank fourth in the NFL in rushing, compiling 1,218 yards on the ground through nine games and averaging 135.3 per game. That success has come despite injuries taking a toll on their offense. D’Onta Foreman leads Chicago with 287 rushing yards but only ranks 39th overall in the NFL.
The Bears’ rushing success is a reflection of their identity under offensive coordinator Luke Getsy's guidance, as he prioritizes the ground game in his scheme.
On Thursday, the Bears will face a Panthers defense that has been gashed on the ground. Carolina ranks 28th in the NFL in rushing defense, allowing 131.8 yards per game.
The Bears can rush to victory over the Panthers if they commit to their ground game.
Draft implications
If the season ended after nine weeks, the Bears would own the Nos. 2 and 3 selections in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Bears acquired the Panthers’ first-round pick in 2024 as part of their trade last March that sent Carolina the No. 1 overall pick in 2023. With the Panthers struggling at 1-7, their pick is poised to be near the top of the draft.
This Cardinals (1-8) currently are positioned with the No. 1 overall pick. The Bears (.479) own the strength-of-schedule tiebreaker over the Giants (.524) and Patriots (.551), a pair of teams that are also 2-7.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.