What can the Packers expect from the Bears this season?

What Packers can expect from Bears: Despite a lack of weapons and a suspect offensive line, the Bears still expect Fields to take a step forward in his development.

When Fields dropped out of the 2021 NFL Draft’s top 10, the Bears’ previous management group traded up to take him.

He is by far the most talented quarterback the Bears have ever had. The problem was the previous regime lacked a sound development plan.

Nagy wanted Fields to sit the entire 2021 season much like Patrick Mahomes did his rookie year when Nagy was the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator. The problem was the Bears had Andy Dalton in front of Fields and not Alex Smith. Also, Nagy proved he was no Andy Reid as a play caller.

Dalton eventually got hurt and Fields was thrust into the starting lineup. Fields played like a rookie.

He completed just 58.9% of his passes, threw for just 1870 yards, seven touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Fields was also sacked 36 times. Part of that was because of a bad offensive line. Some of it was because Fields held onto the ball too long as he tried to adjust from throwing to college wide-open (the receiver is literally wide-open) to NFL open (throw to a spot and trust the receiver is there).

Fields had a penchant for wanting to see his receiver open or look for a bigger gain instead of going to his check down. Getting hit 36 times led to some injuries as well.

Fields enters the 2022 season as the unquestioned starter. He has been working with offensive coordinator Luke Getsy on his footwork and timing during the offseason.

Fields’ Week 1 wide receiver core projects to be Mooney, St. Brown, Pettis, and Jones Jr. He is also playing behind a line that is starting a rookie at left tackle, a center coming off a broken hand that required surgery, a second-year player switching to right guard, and a right tackle who has eight career starts.

Still, the Bears coaching staff expects Fields to improve from last season.

In the preseason finale against the Cleveland Browns, Fields showed he is capable of playing better this season. He completed 14-of-16 passes for 156 yards and three touchdowns. His third touchdown pass was brilliant as he rolled out, faked the defense with his eyes, and found a wide-open Kmet in the endzone.

Fields played well against a defense not using any exotic pass rushes or coverages. The Browns played without defensive ends Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney. Those two combined for 6.5 sacks in Fields’ first career start last year at Cleveland. It was still impressive for Fields to play well in his return to the stadium where he was sacked nine times and completed just six passes in a miserable first career start.

Fields still has to prove he can perform like he did last Saturday against defenses bringing their full array of blitzes, stunts, and coverage disguises. Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner liked what he saw out of Fields while acknowledging he has some areas to grow in.

The preseason did show Getsy is willing to call plays that align with Fields’ strengths. That should also help Fields’ development.

There are still some rumblings that if the Bears are bad enough to pick in the top-5 and Fields is disappointing, Poles will quickly move on and draft a quarterback next year.

Unless Fields is an absolute train wreck, he is going to get two seasons to prove himself based on his rookie contract being super cap-friendly.

A solid second-year leap for Fields should look like he can get the ball out quickly, read defenses, understand his protections to stop said defenses from killing him, get through his progressions, and make plays while limiting turnovers.

If he can do that, then he can work on the necessary parts of his game to reach his enormous potential.