Justin Fields Rumors: Bears' Kevin Warren Wants to Make 'Unemotional Decision' on QB

The Chicago Bears haven't determined Justin Fields' long-term fate in the Windy City, according to The Athletic's Dianna Russini.

Russini reported on The Herd with Colin Cowherd and reported team president Kevin Warren is "really trying to take that time to take a look at all of it, the quarterback, the coaching staff, and really try to make an unemotional decision."

The Bears are on track to have the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, leading many to wonder whether the team will move on from Fields and in favor of USC star Caleb Williams.

There was the hope Fields had turned a corner midway through the 2022 season. He had become a dynamic runner and more importantly a more efficient passer. Maybe the Bears had their franchise quarterback after all.

Instead, Fields has been limited to eight starts thanks to a thumb injury, and his development on the field is going backwards. He has thrown for 1,587 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions, and his 44.5 QBR ranks 23rd in the league.

The trouble with the third-year signal-caller is that he's almost a living Rorschach test.

In the two starts before he got injured, Fields feasted on a pair of bad defenses and had 617 passing yards and eight touchdowns against the Denver Broncos and Washington Commanders. Upon returning, he threw for 169 yards and a score while running for 104 yards as Chicago nearly upset the Detroit Lions.

Are those performances indicative of Fields' true talent level and value? Or is a better barometer his shaky start to the year along with Monday's 12-10 win over the Minnesota Vikings?

Fields threw for 217 yards on 37 attempts in Week 12 as the Bears drew up wide receiver screen after wide receiver screen. He guided Chicago on the game-winning drive inside the final minute, but a better QB may have had the team comfortably ahead already.

And yet, even that raised the question that Fields is simply being let down by his coaching. Perhaps he'd thrive in a more adventurous scheme and one tailored to his strengths.

Where some see a lost cause, other might view a player who at 24 continues to have untapped potential.

Should they wind up with the No. 1 pick, this could ultimately end up being a pretty easy decision for the Bears if they're going to take the pragmatic approach.

The cost of passing on Williams would outweigh the risk in giving up on Fields and watching him thrive elsewhere. You'd reset the clock in terms of the window with which you can build the roster around Williams' rookie contract, and the gap in quality between he and Fields may not be that high.

As much as they might say otherwise, one can't help but wonder whether Warren and Chicago's front office has already determined the path to take.