The Chicago Bears had their second of two joint practices with the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday at the Grand Park Sports Campus.
The Bears have a day off before facing the Colts in a preseason game Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Here’s our camp rundown from Thursday’s session.
News of the day
Bears quarterback Justin Fields will not play in the second preseason game Saturday because of the work he got in during the two days of joint practices. Coach Matt Eberflus said select other starters also will sit out.
That means the game will belong mostly to the backups, including quarterbacks P.J. Walker, Nathan Peterman and undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent.
“I talked to the backups just now and last night about the opportunity they have ahead of them getting all these reps,” Eberflus said. “It’s going to be a great opportunity for those guys.”
Eberflus said the Bears will decide late next week whether Fields and other starters will play in their third and final preseason game Aug. 26 against the Buffalo Bills at Soldier Field. Last year, Fields got his most preseason work in the third game, but the Bears didn’t hold joint practices last summer.
“He always wants to play,” Eberflus said when asked if Fields pushed back on not playing Saturday. “He’s a football player. He’s an elite competitor. He wants to compete every single down, every single play he can. But we’re going to do what’s best for the football team.”
Justin Fields watch
The Bears first-team offense wasn’t particularly effective Thursday, except in seven-on-sevens.
During that period in the red zone, Fields was 8-for-8 with touchdown passes to Darnell Mooney, DJ Moore, Equanimeous St. Brown and Dante Pettis. The flashiest was Moore’s catch against cornerback Kenny Moore II as he stumbled out of the corner of the end zone.
In the final full-team period, Colts linebacker E.J. Speed intercepted Fields on a tipped pass. But the first-team offense took more reps and ended its day with a deep Fields pass to Moore.
Left guard Teven Jenkins said the offense “of course” wants to look better than it did Thursday.
“Even four weeks ago, we have a bad day, we have a good day,” Jenkins said. “Today we go have a bad day, good day. It’s what it is. It’s football. Somebody has to win, and sadly today we didn’t make as much plays as we wanted to.”
Despite some bumps during full-team periods, Eberflus said he thinks Fields is getting better with his rhythm and timing and is “right on pace” with where he needs to be.
“It’s always everybody,” Eberflus said about the offense. “It’s the other 10 guys that need to operate. Are we running the routes correctly? Are we protecting him the right way, giving him time and doing those types of things it takes to have an efficient passing game?”
Seen and heard
Several skirmishes popped up throughout the practice, including one involving rookie cornerback Terell Smith in kickoff drills, which then promptly ended. Eberflus said he understands why fights happen during such competition, but he sets parameters of no punching, slapping or grabbing face masks.
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“You can talk a little bit, but let’s not go over the line with that,” he said. “You’ve got a lot of guys here that are competing for jobs, and they’re competing at the hardest and highest level they can. And a lot of them aren’t going to make the football team. They’re just trying to make the team. I certainly understand that aspect of it. But we’ve also got to protect the players and make sure we’re safe.”
At one point, Moore, Eberflus’ former player, blitzed and knocked the ball from Fields’ hands, which didn’t sit too well with Eberflus.
“I know Kenny and I love Kenny, and he’s a great player and a great man,” Eberflus said. “He came off the edge. We had our protection break down, and at the very last moment our tackle pushed him. I told Kenny after the play, ‘You’re athletic enough to move out of that way and veer from that.’ And he agreed. We just need to do a good job of staying away from both quarterbacks and keeping them safe.”
Eberflus even stepped into at least one scuffle involving offensive linemen Larry Borom and Ja’Tyre Carter in full-team drills.
“I’m OK doing that,” Eberflus said. “I’m never backing down from a confrontation. … I need to get in there and get ’em back so it doesn’t escalate when you’re in there. And it helps that I know half the guys over there, so that’s helpful.”
Eberflus was the Colts defensive coordinator for four seasons and said he enjoyed catching up with old friends this week.
“There’s a lot people here that I love and that I really support, from the players to the GM to really everybody,” he said.
Player in the spotlight
Defensive end DeMarcus Walker practiced for the second straight day after missing two weeks with an injury. And he naturally is eager to get back to full participation.
“From 0 to 100, I’d give it 250,” he said of his eagerness. “I’m so excited to see the guys make plays and the young guys continue to develop, so that eagerness is through the roof, man.”
Walker said he is “getting there” when it comes to full health. The Bears had eight sacks Saturday against the Tennessee Titans, and they didn’t have Walker and pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue on the field. So the team is eager to see what that looks like too.
Walker said he’s “happy” to have Ngakoue on board on the other side of the line.
“Yannick’s definitely somebody who I’m eager to learn from,” Walker said. “That’s one thing about me: I never feel like there’s something I cannot learn. If it’s from the younger guys, I watch their tape, too, figure out what new moves (are out there), something that’s evolving. Because every day is a new day. I’m always wanting to learn.”
Quote of the day
“I guess when you’ve got a lot of guys battling and a lot of testosterone, it just happens. I was wondering if a bunch of tech guys had this type of atmosphere, would they have the same type of results? There’s a lot of testosterone going on and people are fighting and it’s competitive. I love it. It gets the juices flowing, and I’m excited that at least the guys came out healthy.” — Walker on the Bears’ handful of skirmishes with the Colts.
Injury report
Safety Eddie Jackson didn’t practice one day after colliding with Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. Wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. also was missing.
But Eberflus said neither suffered a long-term injury.
Safety Jaquan Brisker, wide receivers Chase Claypool and Tyler Scott, running back Trestan Ebner, cornerback Josh Blackwell, linebackers DeMarquis Gates and Tremaine Edmunds and offensive lineman Lucas Patrick also sat out.
Center Cody Whitehair left practice early and returned to the sideline but didn’t play. Doug Kramer played in his place. Eberflus didn’t have an immediate update on Whitehair.