(670 The Score) It's arguably the biggest question in Chicago sports these days and certainly will be in the coming months.
When will rookie quarterback Justin Fields start for the Bears? Could he start against the Rams in the season opener on Sept. 12? Recently, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported the preference of coach Matt Nagy and the Bears is to keep Fields on the bench behind veteran Andy Dalton for all of 2021.
On Tuesday, Rapoport joined the Parkins & Spiegel Show to discuss Fields' future and ponder the burning question – what are the chances Fields starts for the Bears in Week 1?
"Oh, 5 percent, less," Rapoport said. "Absent injury, I think there's a very, very, very small chance he starts Week 1. Very small."
The Bears traded up to select Fields at No. 11 overall in the NFL Draft in late April. In the time since, Nagy has both indicated Dalton is the team's starter while also leaving the door open for Fields to prove he's ready.
Rapoport expanded on what his understanding of the Bears' situation is now, citing his recent conversation with Nagy and what he has heard around the league.
"Best-case scenario: He doesn't play," Rapoport said of the Bears' thinking. "And I know fans want to see Justin Fields. I also want to see Justin Fields. I think he's going to be a really, really good young quarterback who will grow into a really good older quarterback.
"If the Bears don't play Justin Fields, it means they're in a position where they're winning enough games where they don't have to do that."
