Justin Fields was a full participant in practice Friday for the second straight day and was not given an injury designation, meaning that he's expected to start Sunday's home game against the Packers.
The Bears quarterback missed last weekend's road contest versus the Jets with a left shoulder injury he had sustained a week earlier in Atlanta.
Asked if he could confirm that Fields will start against the Packers, coach Matt Eberflus said: "If it keeps going the way it is, the last two days, it's a green light. So that's what we're looking at."
Fields showed marked improvement throughout the week, especially after being limited in Wednesday's practice.
"It's just progress," Eberflus said. "With the medical staff, they look at him, he's gaining mobility [and] strength. He feels more confident and it goes from limited to full, and that's what happened. He feels good; had a good practice again today, so we're excited about where he is."
“When you get your starting quarterback back and a guy that’s electric like that and makes a lot of plays for our football team, it’s obviously a big boost in the arm to the whole football team.” Bears HC Matt Eberflus
The Bears are confident that Fields will not face any additional risk of aggravating his injury by playing Sunday.
"Our first priority is player safety," Eberflus said. "Right now he feels and we feel that the mobility and strength is there for him to protect himself and he feels like he's 100 percent ready to go."
With Fields returning, the Bears offense will be bolstered by a dynamic dual-threat impact player. The second-year pro ranks seventh in the NFL and first among quarterbacks in rushing with 834 yards and seven touchdowns on 122 carries and has thrown for 1,642 yards with 13 TDs, eight interceptions and an 86.2 passer rating.
In Fields' last five starts, he accounted for 15 touchdowns, rushing for 552 yards and six TDs on 68 carries and completing 73 of 123 passes for 773 yards with nine TDs, three interceptions and a 92.0 rating.
"When you get your starting quarterback back and a guy that's electric like that and makes a lot of plays for our football team, it's obviously a big boost in the arm to the whole football team," Eberflus said. "Guys are excited out there, not only the offensive guys but the defense and special teams. Everybody's excited that he's out there moving around and being himself. [We] certainly missed him last week, so [it's] exciting."
In other injury news, Eberflus announced that backup quarterback Trevor Siemian will undergo season-ending surgery to repair the oblique injury he sustained last Sunday during pregame warmups.
Despite getting hurt, Siemian started against the Jets and played the entire game, completing 14 of 25 passes for 179 yards with one TD, one interception and a 75.2 passer rating.
Third-string quarterback Nathan Peterman is expected to serve as Fields' backup Sunday against Green Bay. The Bears also have quarterback Tim Boyle on their roster after signing him off the Lions practice squad Wednesday.
The Bears have ruled three other players out of Sunday's game: Starting rookie defensive backs Kyler Gordon and Jaquan Brisker and right tackle Larry Borom. Gordon and Brisker remain in concussion protocol, while Borom sustained knee and ankle injuries late in last Sunday's loss to the Jets.
This will be the second straight game that Gordon and Brisker are forced to sit out.
"It's unfortunate, but you've got to go by the protocol," Eberflus said. "You've got to do that, and I think it's the right thing to do. And really it's about going through the procedures and making sure the player is being honest with his assessment and then he has to go through this cognitive test and do all those things and they've got to pass those hurdles, and the NFL has it in for a reason. I know those guys are disappointed they didn't make it through, but that's where it is."
The only other Bears players on the injury report are right tackle Riley Reiff (back) and cornerback Kindle Vildor (ankle), both of whom are listed as questionable after practicing without restrictions Friday.
| Player | Injury | Game status |
|---|---|---|
 |
Concussion | Out |
 |
Concussion | Out |
Several Bears players and coaches rocked special footwear for the team's My Cause My Cleats game December 4th against the Packers. Take an exclusive look at each person's custom spikes, which were created to support a charitable organization of their choice.
Cairo Santos
Organization: The Ross K. MacNeill Foundation
Cairo Santos
Organization: The Ross K. MacNeill Foundation
Byron Pringle
Organization: The Ross K. MacNeill Foundation
Byron Pringle
Organization: The Ross K. MacNeill Foundation
Luke Getsy
Cause: Autism Awareness
Luke Getsy
Cause: Autism Awareness
Sean Magee
Organization: Travis Manion Foundation and Brendan Looney Foundation
Sean Magee
Organization: Travis Manion Foundation and Brendan Looney Foundation
Sean Magee
Organization: Travis Manion Foundation and Brendan Looney Foundation
Al-Quadin Muhammad
Organization: Boys & Girls Clubs
Al-Quadin Muhammad
Organization: Boys & Girls Clubs
Darnell Mooney
Organization: Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
Darnell Mooney
Organization: Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
Trenton Gill
Organization: Duke Cancer Center
Trenton Gill
Organization: Duke Cancer Center
Trenton Gill
Organization: Duke Cancer Center
Patrick Scales
Organization: Navy Seals Foundation
Patrick Scales
Organization: Navy Seals Foundation
Patrick Scales
Organization: Navy Seals Foundation
David Montgomery
Organization: Bright Star Community Outreach
David Montgomery
Organization: Bright Star Community Outreach
David Montgomery
Organization: Bright Star Community Outreach
Nicholas Morrow
Organization: Simple Room
Nicholas Morrow
Organization: Simple Room
Nicholas Morrow
Organization: Simple Room
Lucas Patrick
Organization: First Priority
Lucas Patrick
Organization: First Priority
Lucas Patrick
Organization: First Priority
Angelo Blackson
Organization: Angelo Blackson Foundation
Angelo Blackson
Organization: Angelo Blackson Foundation
Angelo Blackson
Organization: Angelo Blackson Foundation
Jaylon Johnson
Organization: Kevvys Vision Project
Jaylon Johnson
Organization: Kevvys Vision Project
Jaylon Johnson
Organization: Kevvys Vision Project
Matt Eberflus
Organization: Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center
Matt Eberflus
Organization: Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center
Matt Eberflus
Organization: Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center
Ryan Griffin
Organization: National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Ryan Griffin
Organization: National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Ryan Griffin
Organization: National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Ryan Poles
Organization: Beyond the Baby Blues
Ryan Poles
Organization: Beyond the Baby Blues
Ryan Poles
Organization: Beyond the Baby Blues
Josh Blackwell
Organization: Dementia Society of America
Josh Blackwell
Organization: Dementia Society of America
Josh Blackwell
Organization: Dementia Society of America
Eddie Jackson
Organization: Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital's Perinatal Support Services
Eddie Jackson
Organization: Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital's Perinatal Support Services
Eddie Jackson
Organization: Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital's Perinatal Support Services
Eddie Jackson
Organization: Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital's Perinatal Support Services
Justin Fields
Organization: American Brain Foundation
Justin Fields
Organization: American Brain Foundation
Justin Fields
Organization: American Brain Foundation
Trevis Gipson
Organization: Bears Care
Trevis Gipson
Organization: Bears Care
Trevis Gipson
Organization: Bears Care
Alex Leatherwood
Organization: Surfrider Foundation
Alex Leatherwood
Organization: Surfrider Foundation
Alex Leatherwood
Organization: Surfrider Foundation
Braxton Jones
Cause: Social Justice
Braxton Jones
Cause: Social Justice
Braxton Jones
Cause: Social Justice
Alan Williams
Organization: Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Alan Williams
Organization:
Alan Williams
Organization: Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Carla Suber
Organization: Heroh Houndation
Carla Suber
Organization: Heroh Houndation
Carla Suber
Organization: Heroh Houndation
Michael Schofield III
Organization: Schofield Family Foundation
Michael Schofield III
Organization: Schofield Family Foundation
Michael Schofield III
Organization: Schofield Family Foundation
Michael Schofield III
Organization: Schofield Family Foundation
Khari Blasingame
Organization: Turners Heroes
Khari Blasingame
Organization: Turners Heroes
Khari Blasingame
Organization: Turners Heroes
Staley Da Bear
Organization: Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation
Staley Da Bear
Organization: Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation
Staley Da Bear
Organization: Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation
