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Any first-round pick at quarterback will always be the prevailing story of a preseason. They are, naturally, the expected future of an organization. The basket a franchise is putting all its eggs into. Justin Fields is no different. If anything, he might be an exception to the rule in that he’s already transcending past that general future-of-the-franchise quarterback conversation. Thursday was another perfect example.
As the Bears tilted off against the Dolphins in another joint practice, it was the Fields Show all over on Field 3 at Halas Hall. Even if Fields has yet to take snaps with Chicago’s starting offense, it appears he’s more than comfortable with their backups and depth position players.
A sparkling red-zone drill was the highlight for the 22-year-old, but there was more to point to between the lines. Let’s check the beat on the man under center, among other things.
Pressure in Justin Fields face and he flicks it 25 yards to Jesper Horsted for a completion. Made it look effortless. #Bears
— Zack Pearson (@Zack_Pearson) August 12, 2021
Jesper Horsted? Now there’s a name I’ve not heard in a long, long time.
Justin Fields with a nice throw to Jon'Vea Johnson. There were defenders in the area, but Fields put the ball in a spot and Johnson came down with the catch.
— Nicholas Moreano (@NicholasMoreano) August 12, 2021
I don’t know about you, but the more Fields make these bottom-of-the-roster targets look stellar, the more excited I become. What was it that great quarterbacks do with average supporting casts, again?
Justin Fields with the side arm pass to Javon Wims for the TD from the 2-yard line.
— Nicholas Moreano (@NicholasMoreano) August 12, 2021
This one seems familiar. It might also be better, considering it came against an opposing team.
Speaking of ringing endorsements from a time of development.
28. If Justin Fields makes it big this season, we'll look back on Thursday's red-zone drill as The Moment it was clear he was destined for greatness — a dominant performance with six TDs that displayed every facet of his game — run, pass, rollout — that makes him a lethal weapon.
— Mark Potash (@MarkPotash) August 12, 2021
I don’t know if it’s right to say The Moment was visible on August 12, but I’ll allow it. The court rules in favor of this judgment.
In other non-Fields news (I know, there are other players participating, unfortunately), Adam Shaheen was reacquainted with one Khalil Mack. It appears, in his short absence from Chicago, that he managed to forget what Mack is about.
Poor guy.
Individual pass rush drills between the @ChicagoBears OLBs and the @MiamiDolphins TEs got heated after @FiftyDeuce cleanly beat former Bear @adamshaheen3. Shaheen appeared to take exception to being badly beaten, so Mack body slammed him and pinned him to the ground.
— #TheBIGS (@itsthebigs) August 12, 2021
Someone the Bears need to make a massive leap this fall, Jaylon Johnson, continued a strong August and flashed aplenty.
Jaylon Johnson just picked off Tua in the end zone in Red Zone drills. #Bears
— Zack Pearson (@Zack_Pearson) August 12, 2021
A frustrated chip was not limited to matchups between the Bears defense and Dolphins offense.
Cole Kmet took a hit from Eric Rowe and knocked Kmet off his feet. Kmet got up and pushed Rowe and both teams came together and there was shoving going on.
— Nicholas Moreano (@NicholasMoreano) August 12, 2021
The Bears take to live (preseason) game action this Saturday morning against the Dolphins at Soldier Field. We should see plenty of Justin Fields. Who knows? Everyone might even see him early on, if you catch my drift.