Nick Foles

Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy didn't commit to a starting quarterback for Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions.

Nagy told reporters the choice is between Andy Dalton and Justin Fields and that it's a "game-time decision."

Dalton was out for Chicago's 26-6 loss to the Cleveland Browns with a knee injury but said Friday, "I feel very good with where I'm at."

While fans had been clamoring to see Fields as the starter from the moment he was selected in the first round of the draft, the last two weeks have raised cause for concern. Either the rookie isn't ready for the starting gig, or Chicago doesn't have the pieces necessary for him to succeed.

Fields is 12-of-33 for 128 yards and one touchdown in his last two appearances. Against the Browns, the Bears were credited with one net passing yard because the first-year signal-caller was sacked nine times for a loss of 67 yards.

So far, Fields has avoided much scrutiny, with much of the criticism piled instead on Nagy.

But deflecting the blame away from the former Ohio State doesn't change the fact a young quarterback can see his development stunted if a series of poor performances shakes his confidence.

Dalton isn't a perfect solution. The 33-year-old provides a firm ceiling to his offense, having averaged 233.1 yards per game and completed 62.3 percent of his passes.

Making Fields the No. 1 guy might be an even worse route.

This season is only three games old for Chicago, so it's too early for the Bears to hit the panic button. Fans have nonetheless seen this situation play out before; a solid defense isn't enough to overcome a misfiring offense. 

Perhaps Nagy can figure things out to get the team to the playoffs for the third time in four years. If the first three weeks are any indication, though, the coach might be out of answers.

Justin Fields may not be the Chicago Bears' starting quarterback for Week 4 even if Andy Dalton is ruled out for the second straight game.

Bears coach Matt Nagy told reporters Fields, Dalton and Nick Foles are all under consideration for Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions. 

Fields started in place of Dalton for Week 3's loss to the Denver Broncos and looked completely overwhelmed. The Ohio State product threw for just 68 yards on 6-of-20 passing and was sacked nine times. 

Nagy has maintained that Dalton will be the team's starting quarterback when he returns from a bone bruise in his knee. 

The Bears coach, who came into this season on the hot seat, has not done himself any favors through the first three weeks of the season. While Fields did not look good individually, Nagy also did not put him in a position to succeed. The Broncos were often in the backfield before Fields could even have a chance to get through his first read, and few adjustments were made to the play-calling.

Television cameras even appeared to show Foles criticizing the offense in a sideline conversation with Dalton. 

While the Bears have a better matchup this weekend, it may be better for Fields' long-term health to keep him off the field. Chicago has one of the worst offensive lines in football and a coach who is struggling to properly scheme the offense around those limitations. 

Competing for the starting quarterback job hasn't put Justin Fields and Andy Dalton at odds, according to Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy.

"These guys have an unbelievable relationship," Nagy told The MMQB's Albert Breer. "Andy's a huge supporter of Justin. And Justin's a huge supporter of Andy. [Nick Foles is] the same way. When you have that and worry about what you can do to make us and you better, then we'll all be successful."

Breer drew a parallel to Alex Smith and Patrick Mahomes' dynamic on the Kansas City Chiefs in 2017.

In that case, however, Smith had a full season as the starter and put together the best year of his career. He coexisted with Mahomes long enough to get a four-year, $94 million extension from the Washington Football Team in January 2018.

Dalton, on the other hand, may not make it to the halfway point of the 2021 regular season. Breer previously speculated Fields "will be starting at some point in October."

Dalton's tenure in Chicago didn't get off to a great start, and now he has Fields breathing down his neck. FIelds' ascension may feel like a fait accompli, but being the starter for Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Rams allows Dalton the opportunity to prove his skeptics wrong on the field.