NFL rumors: Ex-Eagles QB Nick Foles a heartbeat away from returning to Bears starting lineup

Nick Foles will be the Chicago Bears' No. 2 quarterback Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.
By

Change is blowing in the wind in Chicago.

Want to bet on the NFL?

Here’s our comprehensive guide (and top betting offers)

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Bears head coach Matt Nagy announced Wednesday “Justin Fields will be Chicago’s starting QB against the Browns. And Nick Foles will serve as Chicago’s No. 2 quarterback Sunday against the Browns.”

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports Andy Dalton suffered a bone bruise in his left knee in Sunday’s 20-17 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Fields, the No. 11 pick in the draft, took over on Chicago’s final drive in the first half Sunday after getting in a handful of plays earlier in the game, and he led the Bears the rest of the way.

Want more Eagles coverage? Get exclusive news, behind-the-scenes observations and the ability to text directly with reporters

Dalton was injured on a 14-yard run early in the second quarter. Fields took the final three snaps of that possession.

Dalton was in for the next drive, before Fields led Chicago’s final one of the half.

Fields showed some promise in his first extended look as a pro. But by his own admission, it wasn’t a great outing. He completed just 6 of 13 passes for 60 yards and threw an interception late in the game that led to a touchdown. He also ran for 31 yards.

If Fields gets a start or two and struggles, the Bears might have to decide whether to keep him in the lineup if Dalton is ready to return. Their plan, after all, was to go with the veteran and keep the rookie in a backup role, at least in the early going.

As for Foles, he’s been a bit of a nomad since being named MVP of Super Bowl LII, going from the Eagles to the Jacksonville Jaguars to the Bears. Foles played in nine games last season for Chicago, making seven starts. But he went 2-5, prompting the Bears to address the quarterback position in the 2021 NFL Draft.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.

Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

X

Opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information

If you opt out, we won’t sell or share your personal information to inform the ads you see. You may still see interest-based ads if your information is sold or shared by other companies or was sold or shared previously.