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The Chicago Bears host the Carolina Panthers on Thursday Night Football this week, in a game that has 2024 NFL Draft ramifications. The Bears are 2-7 and the Panthers are 1-7. The Bears own the Panthers' first round pick - and their own - in 2024, so they would almost prefer a tie in this game, though that's unlikely.
Chicago is likely heading into the game with Tyson Bagent as the starting quarterback. He has started the last three games with Justin Fields healing from a thumb injury. Fields hasn't been officially ruled out 24 hours before the game, with the team listing him as doubtful.
Matt Eberflus confuses reporters about Justin Fields' status
During the final press conference before the game, head coach Matt Eberflus stepped up to the podium, where he couldn't seem to give a straight answer about the status of his quarterback.
Eberflus begins by saying Fields has not been medically cleared to play, yet the team is listing him as doubtful for their Thursday night game. He says that's because they want to give him until before gametime to see if he can play or not. But on a follow-up from a separate reporter, Eberflus says "yeah, he's not playing".
When asked why the medical staff hasn't cleared Fields, Eberflus completely evaded the details and resorted to saying the reason is Fields doesn't have the full "ability to function as a quarterback" yet, but it's getting close.
He finally finishes off the long-winded topic by saying he's doubtful until he's out, and that he has a 51 percent chance that he's in or out.
The reporters left the press conference with more questions than answers, even though they just wanted to know if Fields will play or not. Eberflus appeared quite flustered, and it's possible he's feeling a bit of pressure with his team sitting at 2-7.