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In the Chicago Bears’ quest to persuade their fans to have patience with Justin Fields’ development path, the rookie quarterback made a convincing argument.

“Greatness doesn’t happen overnight,” he said Monday at Halas Hall. “It’s a process. I’m just trying to take it day by day and literally focusing on getting better and improving every day.”

In his first news conference since veteran minicamp more than six weeks earlier, Fields seemed comfortable with both his place and progress within the Bears offense.

Before he left for the NFL’s offseason break in June, Fields promised to put in work every day he was away, whether it meant studying the playbook, breaking down film or working out.

Those efforts have helped the first-round draft pick feel more at ease at training camp as the No. 2 quarterback behind Andy Dalton.

“I’ve just gotten more comfortable with the plays and with the offense,” Fields said. “And instead of trying to remember the play call in the huddle, I actually picture it in my head so I actually can see the play call when I’m saying it to the other guys.”

Bears coach Matt Nagy also pointed to Fields calling plays in the huddle — and seeing the play in his mind as he calls it — as stepping stones that have been crossed.

Nagy said the next step for Fields, now that the Bears moved to practices in full pads Tuesday at Soldier Field, will be focusing on his post-snap progressions.

“Things change, right?” Nagy said. “Disguised coverages. They hide their blitzes. Knowing where your protection calls are, being on the same page as the center. That’s where I think now, when things get real and you start putting the pads on and the tempo picks up and you’re playing, now we want to see him execute plays and play fast.”

Fields had several highs and a couple of lows in Monday’s practice in front of fans at the back fields of Halas Hall.

He hit wide receiver Javon Wims down the left sideline for a deep touchdown pass during a situational team drill. He also scrambled for needed yards on a couple of plays.

“When he first got here, I asked him, ‘What is it like to run 4.4?’ ” Dalton said. “He’s special. If he’s got that room in front of him, that’s a part of his game that he can definitely use with his speed.”

Fields’ legs are a weapon the Bears are excited about after he rushed for 867 yards and 15 touchdowns in two seasons at Ohio State. He noted Monday that while his teammates aren’t allowed to hit him in practice, he’s more conscious about running safely after the big hit he took in the College Football Playoff semifinal against Clemson.

“I’m still scarred from that Clemson hit,” Fields said. “Literally every time I tuck the ball down and run, I’m thinking about getting out of bounds or getting down. There are going to be times when you have to, of course, try to fight for extra yardage. I’m definitely smarter and trying to protect myself more.”

As for the negatives Monday, Fields didn’t connect on a couple of deep passes in 7-on-7 drills and noted afterward he was trying to go downfield too much. Dalton stepped over to tell him to take what the defense gives him.

Fields said Dalton has been willing to give advice when it’s needed, including tips on his footwork and how to get through his progressions quicker, and Fields has tried to ask the veteran every question that pops into his head.

“Andy’s been in this league for 10 years now, so he knows the playbook,” Fields said. “He’s smart. So he’s teaching me a lot. I’m just going to take everything I can and learn from him and Nick (Foles). … Just having those two guys in the room with me, I definitely don’t take it for granted. So I’m just going to be a sponge and kind of soak everything in and just learn everything that they tell me.”

Both Dalton and Nagy used the word “confident” to describe how Fields has approached his role, with Nagy saying he has been impressed with Fields’ ability to move on from mistakes.

“Confidence is a great word because he’s not cocky,” Nagy said. “He’s very confident in himself, and I think he’s confident in himself because he prepares. … When you make a mistake, usually it’s not because you didn’t know what you were doing.”

Tuesday’s Bears Family Fest practice at Soldier Field came less than two weeks before Fields will appear there in his first preseason game Aug. 14 against the Miami Dolphins.

Though he’s taking the Bears’ plan for him day by day, he’s just as excited as fans are for him to get into a game.

“If we had a preseason game tomorrow, then we’d be ready,” he said Monday. “We’ve been practicing for a good amount of time. The coaches have done a great job training us, training us to know the playbook. These preseason games are preseason games for a reason. They’re there to make mistakes and they’re there to learn.

“I’m ready to play football. I think everybody on our team is.”

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