Why the Bears’ Nick Foles replaces Justin Fields, Andy Dalton against Seahawks in week 16

Just in time for Christmas, St. Nick starts for the Bears.

While not Noel, Nick Foles will be called up for Chicago on Sunday in a clash with the Seahawks, playing ahead of Justin Fields and Andy Dalton.

The decision is curious: While Dalton, the team’s replacement, has been ruled out due to a groin injury, Fields has yet to be ruled out and is a decision to be considered as to whether he will be Foles’ replacement or not. on Sunday.

Matt Nagy and Co.’s decision to launch Foles is the latest twist in a series of puzzling QB moves since the start of the 2021 season. Here’s why Foles starts in week 16:

Why is Nick Foles starting?

On Christmas Eve, Bears head coach Matt Nagy named Nick Foles starting quarterback ahead of Justin Fields and Andy Dalton as both QB1 and QB2 are suffering from injuries.

Interestingly enough, Fields is a game-time decision as to whether or not he will be Foles’ replacement on Sunday against the Seahawks, and he has yet to be ruled out. Fields injured his ankle in Chicago’s Week 15 game against the Vikings, but ended the game. The rookie passer was limited by training during the week.

Nagy said on Friday the team “are smart” about Fields and are trying to determine the level of pain the quarterback is currently facing.

This isn’t the first injury Fields suffered in 2021: In the preseason he suffered a minor groin injury, while cracked ribs sidelined him for a pair of matches earlier in the season.

Dalton is battling a groin injury that worsened this week after returning from the COVID-19 reserve list.

This will be Foles’ first game of 2021: The Bears declined to trade Foles in the last offseason after signing Dalton and progressing through the draft to select Fields, leaving a valuable veteran passer on the roster.

The only other QB on the list is Ryan Willis, who will need to be high on the practice squad this weekend.

The decision to start Foles is the latest in a series of quarterback reshuffles this season: Dalton was originally named a starter out of training camp, while Fields was ultimately named a starter, replacing Dalton . Injuries shifted the starting job between the two until Foles got the call for the Seahawks game.

What a tangled web Nagy weaves.