Justin Fields has brushed off talks of a contract extension with the Chicago Bears, with the quarterback more focused on getting wins on the board.
The 24-year-old is heading into his third season with the Bears, who selected him as the 11th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. All players can be handed a contract extension after their third season and teams can also decide whether to trigger a fifth-year fully guaranteed option on first-rounders such as Fields.
However, thrashing out new terms with the Bears is not on Field's mind, with the Georgia-born thrower looking to avoid being the sacked the most in the league, with 55 recorded against him last season as well as a league-high 16 fumbles.
“I think every year is a big year,” Fields said in his Tuesday press conference. “So, I mean, yeah — I don’t really have anything to expand on that. But for me, every year is a big year and I’m excited to show. I’m not worried about contracts, I’m worried about wins. I could care less.”
There is also help that Fields will come into his own in the upcoming season following arrivals to bolster the Bears' offense. Fields is avoiding making excuses for himself, respectively laying all of the pressure at his own door.
"For me, I just try not to make excuses,” Fields said. “I feel like I said this multiple times last year — no matter what the situation is, I’m going to go out there on the field and play my hardest for my teammates, for my coaches. So, that’s kind of how I look at it. I never really was looking at it as excuses, if that’s the answer to your question.”
Last season, Fields completed 60.4 per cent of his passes 2,242 yards, while also adding 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Fields also rushed for 1,143 yards with eight touchdowns and also recorded a positive league-high 7.1 yards per carry.
The Bears will be hoping that a bolstered offense and a third-season Fields can help lift them off the bottom of the NFC North, where they finished last season after recording a 3-14 record in the regular season.
Fields missed just two games for the Bears last season as they finished behind the Green Bay Packers, the Detroit Lions, and the Minnesota Vikings.
