QB Andy Dalton to start Bears' regular-season finale

Andy Dalton will start the Bears' final game of the 2021-22 season, head coach Matt Nagy confirmed on Friday.

Dalton, 34, will make his second straight start and sixth of the season while veteran Nick Foles will serve as the backup. The decision comes as Justin Fields was placed on the COVID-19 reserve list earlier in the week.

In Dalton's seven total appearances this season, he's thrown for 1,190 yards to go with seven touchdowns and seven interceptions. He's completed 116-of-188 attempted passes, good for a 61.7% completion percentage.

The Bears signed Dalton to a one-year deal this past offseason after he started nine games for the Cowboys in 2020 following Dak Prescott's injury. Dalton was expected to be the team's QB1 but lost the starting job by midseason to Fields, whom the Bears traded up to select at No. 11 overall in last year's draft.

At 6-10, the Bears no longer have any playoff hopes for this season. They face the also-eliminated Vikings on Sunday to wrap up the year.