Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy praised quarterback Justin Fields on Thursday despite the team’s 0-3 record and Fields’ unspectacular play.
“Our expectations have always been the same,” Getsy told reporters, according to Courtney Cronin of ESPN. “It’s about [Fields] getting better every single week and making sure that he’s mastering what we’re doing from our perspective. And being the leader of that unit. And I think he’s doing a really nice job in the midst of a lot of s— right now and going on, that he’s … manning up and taking a leadership role for these guys. So, it’s been good to see him be able to put it on his shoulders and be the guy that wants to help make this thing get right.”
Fields seemed to call the coaching staff out when he said he “was robotic and not playing like myself” during a Week 2 loss at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Meanwhile, the Bears generated headlines throughout last week after defensive coordinator Alan Williams suddenly resigned amid bizarre rumors and stories.
As for Fields, he spent portions of the offseason working to improve as a passer as he looks to secure a contract extension as soon as next year. Per ESPN stats, he ended Week 3 ranked dead last among qualified players with a 21.0 adjusted QBR and 31st out of 34 quarterbacks with a 58% completion percentage. Fields is second among signal-callers with 109 rushing yards and has recorded four touchdowns (three passing, one rushing) to go along with four interceptions.
Getsy and others within the Bears could find their seats uncomfortably warm if Fields and company don’t turn things around beginning with this Sunday’s home game against the 0-3 Denver Broncos.
“Nothing or nobody or no circumstance is going to put more pressure on myself than myself already,” Getsy explained. “…If we’re not achieving everything that we want to achieve as a team, I’ll always look inward first.”
As of Thursday afternoon, OddsChecker listed the Bears as underdogs (+148. +3.5) for Sunday’s matchup.