EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — After all, it was Trevor Siemian starting for the Chicago Bears. Justin Fields was ruled out…
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — After all, it was Trevor Siemian starting for the Chicago Bears.
Justin Fields was ruled out game on Sunday against the New York Jets, and it was initially planned that Semian would become the starter in his place. But Siemian injured his oblique during warmups, and the Bears announced that third stringer Nathan Peterman would start in his place.
Both Siemian and Peterman threw from the sideline with minutes to go, and the Bears switched again — back to Siemian.
Fields, who is in his second NFL season, injured his left shoulder in Chicago’s 27-24 loss against Atlanta last Sunday. He was listed as questionable on the team’s latest injury report on Friday. Fields made the trip with the team to New York and threw lightly on the field at MetLife Stadium, but Chicago officially ruled him inactive 90 minutes before kickoff.
Fields said earlier this week his injury is a dislocated shoulder with ligament damage in the AC joint. While the injury is related to his non-throwing shoulder, he experienced pain in that shoulder while throwing.
Entering this week, Fields ranks fifth in the NFL in rushing with 834 yards to lead all quarterbacks. He has seven touchdowns this season, including six in the last five games.
He also joined Arizona’s Kyler Murray as the only QBs in the Super Bowl era with both a passing and rushing touchdown in five consecutive games.
Siemian’s last start came in Week 11 of last season’s loss at Buffalo, when he started for New Orleans. On Sunday, he will face another of his former teams. He started one game for the Jets in 2019, but injured his ankle early and missed the rest of the season.
Peterman was promoted Saturday from the practice squad to serve as Siemian’s backup.
Chicago is also without two starters on defense with cornerback Kyler Gordon and linebacker Jaquan Brisker out with concussions.
Bears-Jets matchup has already lost some of its luster before Fields was ejected. This week, New York traded Zach Wilson, the No. 2 pick in last year’s draft, in favor of Mike White. Wilson struggled mightily in his second season, while Fields — selected nine picks after him — has developed into one of the league’s most exciting quarterbacks.
Wilson was listed as inactive for the game, with Joe Flacco serving as White’s backup.
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