|
That visiting San Francisco passed on selecting Fields in the
2021 NFL Draft hardly will have a bearing on Fields when Chicago
hosts the 49ers on Sunday afternoon.
"We're not worried about last year's draft," Fields said. "‘Oh,
this team passed on me.'"
Piloting an attack led by new head coach Matt Eberflus and new
offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, Fields hopes to build
consistency after what proved a lame-duck season for former
coach Matt Nagy in 2021.
An emerging bond with coaches and teammates old and new has the
second-year signal-caller feeling optimistic about the new
season.
"My guys in the locker room. ... Playing for my teammates,
playing for my coaches and going out and executing to the best
of my ability," Fields said on his motivation.
In 12 games as a rookie, including 10 starts, Fields passed for
1,870 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions while rushing
for 420 yards and two scores.
Fields will be facing a fellow second-year pro in San Francisco
quarterback Trey Lance, who takes over the starting job from
veteran Jimmy Garoppolo.
Although Garoppolo steered San Francisco to the NFC Championship
Game a season ago, the 49ers have opted for Lance, a North
Dakota State product, under center following training camp.
"Trey's in as good of a spot as I've been around him," 49ers
coach Kyle Shanahan said. "He's confident, had a good camp, got
as many reps as he's ever gotten before. He's been thrown in a
ton of tough situations, good situations, and now it's time to
go play."
Lance played in six games as a rookie, making two starts, while
throwing only 71 passes. He accounted for six total touchdowns,
including five through the air, passing for 603 yards and
rushing for 168.
To be sure, the 49ers like Lance's mobility and versatility,
which are attributes of dual-threat wide receiver Deebo Samuel.
Samuel ranked third in the NFL in 2021 with a career-best 1,770
scrimmage yards while becoming the first player in league
history to gain at least 1,400 yards receiving and 300 yards
rushing in a single season. The first-time All-Pro ran for eight
touchdowns, the most by a wideout in a single season in NFL
history.
Samuel had 171 receiving yards against the Bears last season,
helping the 49ers to a 33-22 road victory in Week 8. Elijah
Mitchell, then a rookie, ran for a career-best 137 yards with a
TD.
The 49ers may be without three-time Pro Bowl tight end George
Kittle, who suffered a groin injury in Monday's practice.
Shanahan said Wednesday that Kittle was day-to-day.
Fields ran for a career-high 103 yards on 10 carries against San
Francisco last season while contributing a passing and rushing
touchdown apiece.
That effort came on an arguably shoddy surface at Soldier Field.
The Bears since have installed Bermuda grass that Eberflus said
should be more durable, especially in colder weather later in
the season.
Chicago hopes that also bodes well for a pass rush led by Robert
Quinn, who paced the NFC with 18 1/2 sacks last season.
The all-time series between the Bears and 49ers is tied 32-32-1.
San Francisco has won two of the past three meetings.
--Field Level Media
[© 2022 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |
|
