Bears’ Justin Fields apprehensive about wins, not his contract

LAKE FOREST, Sick. — If all goes nicely for Justin Fields throughout his third NFL season, the Chicago Bears quarterback may be a part of the ranks of Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson with a profitable contract extension subsequent offseason.

All rookies are extension-eligible after their third season whereas groups can train fifth-year choices on former first spherical draft picks (Fields was chosen eleventh general by Chicago in 2021) forward of a participant’s fourth season.

Fields’ future hinges on how profitable he’s this fall. That is not misplaced on the 24-year-old quarterback, who says his future earnings are at the moment the furthest factor from his thoughts.

“I am not apprehensive about contracts, I am apprehensive about wins,” Fields stated. “I may care much less.”

Coming off a 3-14 season the place the Bears owned the NFL’s worst passing offense at 130.5 yards per recreation, Chicago is prioritizing Fields’ progress as a passer. Fields accomplished 60.4% of his passes for two,242 yards, 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 15 video games in 2022.

That emphasis is mirrored within the additions the Bears made to their crop of cross catchers this offseason, together with huge receivers DJ Moore and rookie Tyler Scott together with tight finish Robert Tonyan.

After ending the 2022 season 64 yards shy of breaking Jackson’s single-season quarterback speeding file, Fields expressed disappointment in not with the ability to attain a historic landmark however stated he’d relatively sooner or later set a passing file.

Whether or not it is statistical milestones or a possible extension months from now, Fields’ method to the upcoming season stays the identical.

“Yearly’s an enormous yr,” Fields stated. “I do not actually have something to develop on that. For me, yearly’s an enormous yr and I am excited to point out it.”

Following the Bears’ second OTA observe on Tuesday, the quarterback addressed the multitude of strikes made by the Chicago entrance workplace since March. Fields expressed pleasure over the addition of Moore, who was traded to Chicago by Carolina in a bundle of draft picks in change for the No. 1 general decide.

“DJ brings nice expertise to this group — simply his character, it matches in nicely with all people actually from the primary day he bought right here,” Fields stated. “He is a tough employee, an awesome participant. His character, I believe simply the way in which he acts across the guys, he simply matches in very well with our group. Undoubtedly enthusiastic about that.”

Earlier than the Bears pulled off the commerce that netted the Panthers the draft’s high decide to pick quarterback Bryce Young, hypothesis centered on whether or not Chicago would retain the highest decide and draft a quarterback. Fields was not drafted by Bears basic supervisor Ryan Poles, who spent the offseason backing his perception in Fields with a bevy of offensive additions.

Whereas Poles stated the Bears did their due diligence on all 4 of the draft’s high QBs — Younger, C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson and Will Levis — Fields stated the considered Chicago drafting a quarterback No. 1 general by no means crossed his thoughts.

“No, not likely,” he stated. As a substitute, the funding proven by the Bears in Fields’ future speaks volumes to the quarterback.

“It is superior for me getting that belief from the teaching employees,” Fields stated. “You guys do not see it, however we talk right here on a regular basis, we belief one another totally. Simply having them behind me, they know the type of chief I’m to my teammates, they know the way nice I wish to be, the work I put in. It is simply nice to have them behind my again for positive.”

Throughout their second OTA observe, Fields displayed his deep ball reference to Moore in 11-on-11. Their chemistry continues to be a “work in progress,” in accordance with Moore, who does not assume it’s going to take lengthy for the 2 to get on the identical web page.

“How lengthy? I wish to say in all probability to the top of OTAs and thru minicamp after which beginning again up, you realize you bought that break, and then you definately gotta begin it another time,” Moore stated. “Going into coaching camp, in all probability about two to a few days to get again on observe the place we resulted in OTAs.”

Fields expressed a degree of consolation through the Bears’ voluntary offseason program that he didn’t really feel in 2022 when tasked with studying a brand-new offense.

“It is really superb when you’ve gotten that feeling moving into, realizing the place your guys are going to be, extra comfy with the footwork stuff,” Fields stated.

That is one thing offensive coordinator Luke Will get seen from the QB as nicely, just lately claiming that Fields is “mild years forward of the place he was” at this level final yr.

Those that are attending to witness Fields’ command of the offense for the primary time — even gamers on protection — have been impressed by the quarterback’s management on and off the sphere.

“Great athlete,” linebacker Tremaine Edmunds stated. “Clearly he is quite a bit larger than I assumed he was. Clearly, I performed towards him final yr, however seeing him day-after-day, arduous employee, chief. You possibly can see that he makes guys round him higher. He leads from the entrance. His work clearly speaks for itself. Simply seeing him go on the market day-after-day and develop, develop, spreading the ball round, simply his pondering. I am seeing it firsthand and I am excited. They bought loads of good issues occurring the offensive facet. Together with his management and … clearly his playmaking skills, it is one thing to be enthusiastic about for positive.”