Matt Nagy names Justin Fields Bears starting QB over Andy Dalton

Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy has repeatedly insisted that veteran Andy Dalton would reclaim the starting quarterback job over rookie Justin Fields as soon as Dalton was recovered from the knee injury that has sidelined him the past two weeks. 

That's no longer the case. 

As Josh Alper explained for Pro Football Talk, Nagy confirmed Wednesday that Fields will start in Sunday's matchup at the 3-1 Las Vegas Raiders and remain the team's QB1. 

"He’s grown to this point," Nagy said of Fields. "He’s earned it. He’s worked hard. And now he has this opportunity."

Fields endured a nightmare first pro start at the Cleveland Browns back on Sept. 26 when he completed only 6-of-20 passes for 68 yards and was sacked nine times, but the 22-year-old did well to bounce back and help the Bears improve to 2-2 on the campaign via last Sunday's 24-14 win over the Detroit Lions. Fields looked more settled in that victory and hit on 11-of-17 passes for 209 yards. He was sacked only a single time. 

He'll look to throw his first NFL regular-season touchdown at Allegiant Stadium Sunday in front of a raucous and intimidating Raiders crowd.