Justin Fields will start against Tennessee in preseason game No. 3

LAKE FOREST – Bears rookie quarterback Justin Fields will start Saturday’s preseason game at Tennessee, coach Matt Nagy announced Tuesday.

Starting quarterback Andy Dalton will have Saturday off. Fields will likely see two quarters of action. The Bears are expected to start their starting offensive line, but skill position starters like receiver Allen Robinson or running back David Montgomery will likely have the day off.

Dalton started the previous two preseason games. He played the entire first half last week against Buffalo. Fields came in and played the second half. For Fields, the game experience this preseason has been invaluable.

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“I would say the biggest difference between games and practice is the actual D-line coming to hit you,” Fields said. “Practice, the D-line is told not to be around the quarterback, but actually facing that in-game pressure and having to throw with pressure in your face is the biggest difference between a game and practice.”

Fields learned that the hard way last week when he took a vicious-looking hit from Buffalo linebacker Andre Smith, which resulted in a penalty for roughing the passer.

Dalton remains the starting quarterback and is expected to start in Week 1 against the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 12. Nagy said that once the regular season begins, production and results will matter.

“Big picture, when we talk about this, we said whoever is going to be best for the Chicago Bears, and that’s going to obviously deal with production and wins,” Nagy said.

Fields said he believes in Nagy’s plan, but he also doesn’t really have a choice. Fields would probably prefer to play right away. This is a quarterback who played through a rib injury in the College Football Playoff national championship game. He’s not interested in sitting.

But the Bears brought in Dalton to buy Fields time. Fields, at least, understands that.

“That’s ultimately why I’m trusting [Nagy] because he’s, of course, we all want the same thing, we all want to win games, there’s no reason for me not to trust him,” Fields said.