The last time Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett lined up against Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields, he wracked up 4.5 sacks on the then-rookie passer in 2021.
That was Fields’ first career NFL start, and it ended in a 26-6 win for the Browns. Two years later, Garrett is still one of the best at his position while Fields’ future remains questionable.
But Garrett understands a lot has changed between now and then. Fields has improved in nearly all facets of the game and is still one of the best rushing quarterbacks in the league. Garrett also acknowledged how the 2023 version of the Bears is different from the one he and the Browns faced two years ago.
“[Fields] and that entire offense have evolved,” Garrett said, per Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot. “His timing, his pocket presence, figuring out when he needs to run, when he needs to pass and looking at his reads and if he doesn’t see it, he’s going to use his legs.
“I mean, last time we played he was trying to stay in the pocket, trying to deliver passes. I don’t think he really had the timing down knowing that when that internal clock is going, especially with good rushers on the other side. Now he kind of has that feel where it’s like, ‘All right, it’s not here, there, let me use my God-given ability and get out of here.’”
The Browns wracked up nine sacks on Fields in 2021 and the Bears quarterback completed just 6-of-20 attempts for 68 yards. Fields has since seen his completion percentage and total yards per game go up and his interception percentage go down.
But Chicago still isn’t winning games – although they’re currently on a two-game winning streak – and may move on from Fields next season if they like the top quarterback draft prospects this spring. Week 15 will be a crucial evaluation point for the Bears with Fields playing against one of the best overall defenses in the league and one of the best edge rushers in the NFL.
