With their NFC playoff hopes long since dashed, the Chicago Bears will start third-string quarterback Nathan Peterman on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. Justin Fields had been playing through a hip injury late in the season, but the Bears will now prioritize his health over their lost season. Peterman will take on the Vikings, who are jockeying for position in the NFC playoff race.
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Justin Fields Injury Update: Chicago Bears QB Change
The Chicago Bears have leaned on first-round quarterback Justin Fields to carry their depleted roster. General manager Ryan Poles opted to trade players on expiring contracts, like Robert Quinn and Roquan Smith, instead of pushing for a successful campaign this year. The strategy should pay dividends down the line, and the decision to bench Fields due to injury aligns with Chicago’s long-term plans.
In fact, a loss by Chicago (3-13) and a win by the Houston Texans (2-13-1) at the Indianapolis Colts would give the Bears the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
The #Bears will start Nathan Peterman on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. Justin Fields' season is over due to a hip injury.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 4, 2023
Fields will fall 63 yards short of the NFL single-season record for rushing yards by a quarterback, set by Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens in 2019 (1,206). Fields, with 1,143 yards, is the third quarterback to rush for 1,000 yards in a season (Michael Vick, 1,039, 2006 Atlanta Falcons). Jackson also did so in 2020 (1,005).
With Fields benched, Nathan Peterman will take over under center. Peterman has attempted just six passes for 25 net yards, no touchdowns and one interception. He last started in 2018 after an injury to Derek Anderson thrust him into the job for the Buffalo Bills. Peterman completed 63.3% of his passes for a futile 3.38 net yards per attempt (NY/A), no touchdowns and three interceptions.
Bettors should expect Peterman and the Bears to struggle. Peterman has a career completion percentage of 52.5% for only 3.85 NY/A. He has tossed three touchdown passes to 13 interceptions. He now must play behind a bad and banged-up offensive line and throw to a misfit cast of wide receivers. The offensive line allowed Fields to take a whopping seven sacks just last week.
The Vikings-Bears betting markets responded quickly to news of Fields’ benching. The Bears, who were just 1-point home underdogs as of Sunday, are now 7.5-point home underdogs at DraftKings Sportsbook after the Justin Fields injury news. The total ticked down from 46 to 45. New bettors eager to fade Peterman and the Bears can even turn a $5 moneyline wager on the Vikings into $200 in bonus bets at DraftKings!
