(670 The Score) With injury concerns for the top two quarterbacks on their depth chart, the Bears are preparing potential contingency plans.
Veteran Andy Dalton (left knee) and rookie Justin Fields (right hand) are each working through their respective injuries as the Bears prepare to take the practice field again Wednesday ahead of their game against the Lions on Sunday. With their injury statuses unclear, the Bears have worked out quarterbacks Jacob Dolegala, Peyton Ramsey and Ryan Willis, according to the latest news on the NFL's transaction wire Tuesday.
The Bears are committed to Dalton as their starter when he's healthy, though it's unclear if that will be this week. In a game on Sept. 19, he suffered a bone bruise in his left knee, which is likely a multi-week injury. The No. 11 overall pick in the NFL Draft, Fields made his first NFL start Sunday and suffered an injury to his right throwing hand in Chicago's 26-6 loss at Cleveland.
Fields underwent X-rays on his right hand after the game, which came back negative. He said the injury was "fine," but the Bears were preparing to see whether he was dealing with pain or swelling this week. In a media session Monday, coach Matt Nagy didn't rule out the possibility of veteran third-string quarterback Nick Foles starting against the Lions this Sunday at Soldier Field.
Dalton, 33, is 36-of-49 for 262 yards with one touchdown and one interception this season.
Fields, 22, is 14-of-35 for 138 yards and an interception over parts of three games. He struggled in the Bears' woeful offensive performance Sunday, going 6-of-20 for 68 yards while Chicago managed just 47 net yards of offense, the franchise's second-lowest mark since 1966.
The Bears don't have a fourth quarterback on their roster or practice squad, which is what led them to inviting the three quarterbacks in for workouts.
Dolegala went to Central Connecticut and was undrafted in 2019. He has spent time with the Bengals, Patriots and Packers in recent years.
Ramsey played collegiately at Indiana and Northwestern and went undrafted in 2021.
Willis played collegiately at Kansas and Virginia Tech and went undrafted in 2020.
Nagy is scheduled to address reporters Wednesday -- which is usually a day he doesn't hold a media session -- meaning the Bears could offer clarity on their quarterback situation then.
The Bears will issue their first injury report Wednesday afternoon after practice.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.