Chicago Bears: Fields’ running helped the offensive line on occasion

The Chicago Bears’ offensive line struggled mightily in 2022. After giving up a league-high 58 sacks in 2021, the unit did not improve. It gave up the same number of sacks in 2022. They were saved from being the worst again because three teams gave up more.

With general manager Ryan Poles being an offensive lineman himself, he understands the importance of that unit. He understands what the linemen should be doing to be successful.

Nothing from last season could be considered a success.

Despite allowing 58 sacks in 2022, the Chicago Bears offensive line could have been even worse had it not been for Justin Fields’ historic running.

It is difficult to believe but it is true — the line could have been much worse last season. Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy chucked most of the offensive playbook to have  Justin Fields run more. That plan seemed to work as FIelds ran for 1,143 yards, the second-most in a season in NFL history for a quarterback.

There were times when Fields’ running was not planned. Far too many times, he had to run for his life because of a protection breakdown from the offensive line.

The man charged with protecting Fields’ blindside, left tackle Braton Jones, agrees with that assessment. He was the Bears’ fifth-round pick last year who impressed the coaching staff enough to start Week 1. He ended up playing every offensive snap.

Jones admitted that Fields’ running masked what could have been an even worse showing by the offensive line. In a recent interview, he recounted a play against the Miami Dolphins in which he ran for a 61-yard touchdown. Jones missed his play but Fields ran through and made him look good on the play.

"There were a couple of plays that I remember. Against Miami,  Justin had a [61-yard] rushing touchdown. But, I was getting edged a little bit, and him getting out of the pocket and running for the touchdown, it made it look like I had actually pancaked the guy. But, actually, I was getting edged and Justin saved me and ran for the touchdown."

Fields made a lot of people look good in that game. He completed about 61 percent of his passes and had 3 touchdown throws. Additionally, he had 178 rushing yards, the most ever by a quarterback in a game.

There were times when Fields’ eagerness to run ended up costing him a sack. You can’t blame him for feeling the heat at times when it wasn’t there. Most times the heat was there.

Jones said it wasn’t so much a case of Fields trying to be a hero, though. It was more of a sense of him trying to help the offensive line when he felt there was a breakdown.

"But, more times than not, Justin is helping the offensive line get out of those type of situations where maybe protection breaks down. He’s been great. It’s so fun watching him just start rolling down the field."

The Bears brought in Nate Davis and ended up playing musical chairs with the rest of the line. Davis is a right guard. Teven Jenkins, last season’s starter there, moved over to left guard. That meant Cody Whitehair, the starting left guard, moved to center. He replaced Sam Mustipher, who struggled at that position last year. Mustipher signed with the Baltimore Ravens as a free agent.

With a revamped offensive line, the Chicago Bears hope that the unit becomes stronger. If they are able to block better for Fields, he could be the effective passer that the team knows he can become. That will result in a much happier season than we’ve seen in a while.