Teven Jenkins will remain sidelined w/bad back Ifedi on PUP

As a follow up, there might be QBs that haven't developed because of bad OLs but...that's really hard to point at.

I'm not saying play Fields regardless, but IMO great talent shows.

Agree. This is an epic fail, so far, by Pace. For every good thing he’s done, he f’s up in a bigger and more impactful way.

I usually give great leeway to the coaches and GMs but .... Can't really explain this one at all.

I'm sure the plan was...start the rookie at LT and see if there is any promise. If there is, he's the LT and next season you add Broom in at RT. Suddenly you have a young line with the anchor being Whitehair. But it seems to me there was no "And if it doesn't work out, we'll..."

I hate to say it but Classic Bears.

I don't feel as strongly as many in the can't/don't play Fields behind a bad OL. He's going to play this season. I'd almost rather have him thrust into the starting role with as many first team reps as possible then be forced into action when Dalton comes crashing down. It is true that they could offer up Dalton and then Foles to the football gods. If the line is that bad, that might last what....3 series before we see Fields? Seriously, if Dalton goes down what then? Foles? Bray? Me?

About the only high draft pick ruined behind a line that I can bring to mind is Carr. There may be guys who would have turned out if they hadn't been forced to play, but that's an argument from an unknown to proof. Watson took a tremendous beating (no pun intended), did get injured but has returned. Rogers sat, and suffered injuries early in his career. Brady sat because the guy in front of him had thrown for yards and TDs over the course of 9 seasons and gone to the playoffs 4 times (Early Bledsoe was a sight to behold...took a pounding as a 'classic' NFL QB), and Brady only moved into the starting role because Bledsoe got hurt. (There are some hints that Belichik was going to make a move regardless.) Manning played, Wilson played. Mahomes sat but Smith had just put together a great year at QB (67.5%, 4042-26-5--I'd give my little finger for a Bears QB to put up those numbers.) Every situation is a little different and IMO makes it almost impossible to compare especially going as far back as Brady, Manning, Rodgers and even Brees.

All that to say...I don't know if you start Fields game 1 or not. If he has earned it, and you don't play him then what message are the vets getting? Mack/DannyT/Hicks don't have many top shelf seasons left. Mack should still be prime, are they willing to waste another year of Mack because can't risk Fields behind the OL?