Chris Simms Admits He Was Wrong to Give Justin Fields a Low Ranking

Simms admits he was wrong to give Justin Fields a low ranking originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

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Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Justin Fields continues to show his potential week-by-week in the NFL. His impressive gameplay has shown that he's the best-suited quarterback on the team while others believe he's one of the best newcomers in the league.

On Monday's episode of Chris Simms Unbuttoned, NFL analyst Chris Simms acknowledged the fact that he ranked Fields low on his list of NFL quarterbacks.

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"I'm already feeling as far as all the quarterbacks in my rankings that I'm the most wrong about him (Fields)," Simms said. "I know I made him 5-6 to begin with and that's the one I'm looking at."

Simms also believes that Fields — who was drafted by the Bears with the No. 11 pick — is playing far greater than San Francisco 49ers rookie quarterback Trey Lance. Lance was the third overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

"To me he's light years ahead of Trey Lance right now," Simms said. "He's not as raw. He knows how to play the position a little bit more rather than just being a great athlete who plays the position.

"And that's what I like from him and of course he knows how to handle himself and do everything else the right way, too."

Simms was impressed with some good moments the Bears possessed during Sunday's 24-14 loss against the Green Bay Packers.

Fields started the game off hot, going 3-3 for 46 yards on the Bears opening drive that consisted of an eight-play, 80-yard drive that would soon give rookie running back Khalil Herbert his first NFL career touchdown on a 1-yard run.

Eight plays into their second drive, the Bears were looking to pass for another touchdown, but the offensive line noticed that Green Bay was offsides. Thinking the ball went into free play, the ball was snapped and Fields threw it far into the end zone where it was intercepted by Green Bay safety Darnell Savage. The officials never called a flag on the play and the interception was ruled fair.

"... I didn't see like, oh man, egregiously missed throws or bad decisions for the most part," Simms said about Fields' performance.

Fields will be put to the test once again against a tough quarterback in Tom Brady as the Bears face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 7 Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.