Matt Eberflus on whether Bears will shut down Justin Fields: ‘Absolutely not’

The Chicago Bears have nothing to play for except reps and experience over the final two games of the 2022 season. At 3-12 and only 2023 NFL Draft positioning to be concerned with, the idea of shutting down QB Justin Fields would make sense. He’ll avoid catastrophic injury and finish the 2022 year with one of the brightest outlooks in the league.

Just don’t make that suggestion to coach Matt Eberflus.

“Absolutely not,” Eberflus said Monday when asked about shutting down Fields.

“We want to improve,” Eberflus said. “We want to see where we are. These last two games matter. They’re division opponents to us, very important to our football team to see the competition, to see guys compete against our division. I think it’s important for each man, it’s important for each unit and it’s important for our whole football team.”

(Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)

Is losing winning for Justin Fields and the Bears in the final two games?

Bears fans don’t want to admit it, but going 0-2 over the next two games is this team’s best-case scenario. They’ll be guaranteed the second-overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and, with a little bit of luck, could end up with the first pick if the Houston Texans go on an unexpected heater.

Eberflus, again, disagrees. Winning matters to those inside Halas Hall, especially if those wins come in close games.

“They’re getting close to really understanding how to finish the game, and you finish with game-defining execution,” Eberflus said. “That’s what you finish with. You finish in those moments that the plays when they matter in the fourth quarter, we execute. And to me, these next two games are just about that. Being able to execute in those game-defining moments, those plays that matter, and getting it done. And to me, that’s important going forward to the future.”

The Chicago Bears travel to Detroit to face the Jeckyl and Hyde Lions in Week 17 before putting a ribbon on the 2022 season at home against the NFC North-leading Minnesota Vikings in Week 18.