CHICAGO (670 The Score) -- The plan was for quarterback Justin Fields and the Bears’ starting offense to play two series of work against the Titans in the preseason opener Saturday at Soldier Field. Those limited snaps turned out to be memorable.
Fields connected on the Bears’ third play from scrimmage with new No. 1 wide receiver DJ Moore for a 62-yard touchdown. Then on the second series, Fields scrambled to his left and dropped a pass to running back Khalil Herbert, who took it 56 yards down the sidelines for a touchdown.
The Bears removed Fields from the game after those two brief series. He finished 3-of-3 for 129 yards, two touchdowns and a perfect 158.3 rating. The Bears' starting offense worked seven snaps in total, with Herbert adding four carries for 15 yards. Fields also connected with fullback Khari Blasingame on the first play from scrimmage.
The Bears earned a 23-17 win over the Titans in a game that was underscored by some promising moments from the offense.
"When you have guys that can take a three-yard pass 50 yards, that just makes my job easier," Fields said. "It's always good to have playmakers like that on the team.
"As a quarterback, it's always good to have playmakers like that."
As Moore sprinted down the sidelines, the crowd at Soldier Field erupted and anticipated he would not be caught before the end zone.
The 26-year-old Moore was acquired by the Bears as a key return in the team's March trade with the Panthers that involved the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. General manager Ryan Poles elected for Carolina to include Moore rather than a third first-round pick from 2025.
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Moore hauled in 364 receptions for 5,201 yards and 21 touchdowns over five seasons with the Panthers. He was targeted by the Bears in this trade to be the true No. 1 wide receiver that Fields was missing.
Fields' leading wide receiver last season was Darnell Mooney, who had 40 receptions in a dozen games before a season-ending ankle injury late November. The Bears view Moore as a key difference-maker for their offense.
"When you add a playmaker like that to your football team, there's excitement," Bears coach Matt Eberflus said. "I mean, just automatic excitement in the whole building.
"You know this guy is special and he can make a lot of things happen. I would say his attitude and his personality are very infectious. He kind of lights up a room when he comes into it.
"He brings all that energy to the team."
Fields should expect to see his most significant action of the preseason in two weeks at Soldier Field as the Bears host the Bills for their third and final exhibition game. Last year, Fields worked 24 snaps during the team’s preseason finale.
Fields played just nine snaps in the second preseason game last season. The Bears will take on the Colts next Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis in their second exhibition.
The Bears and Colts will conduct their first joint practice on Wednesday in Westfield, Indiana.
"Just practicing against somebody else," Fields said. "Definitely excited for that.
"It will be good for the guys. It will be really good work."
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Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
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