When the NFL added a game to the regular season, it subtracted one game from the preseason. This is the third year the regular season consists of 17 games. With one preseason game removed, coaching staffs league-wide are still working on how to handle playing time for their starters.
After the Chicago offense dominated in the joint workout sessions with the Indianapolis Colts this week, head coach Matt Eberflus announced starting QB Justin Fields and several other starters would not see playing time in Saturday’s game against the Colts.
Several offensive linemen are also battling through some minor injuries. Some analysts opined that those injuries to some of the OL was a big factor for sitting Fields. Former scout Greg Gabriel has a different take:
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“Some fans/media just don’t get it. The plan to not play Fields this week was not made yesterday but rather weeks ago when the coaches put the training camp plan together. Some must feel these coaches are idiots! Trust me, they know what they are doing & following the plan set up.”
Other teams around the league are playing starters in week two. In Kansas City, the starters will play the entire first half.
Most coaches had similar plans when the preseason consisted of four games. The starters would play one or two series. They would then play into the second quarter in week two. Week three saw the first string play the entire first half and perhaps one series in the third quarter. In week four, most starters would not dress for the game.
Two big factors in recent years have resulted in the lack of preseason playing time for the starting lineup: Player’s health is crucial. No team wants to see one of their top players injured in a preseason game. And now that players stay in shape all year, they no longer have to play their way into shape.
We have seen joint workouts now in the preseason. Teams get a good look at how they are competing against another team. More important, though, is teams DO NOT have to share film of practice sessions like they are required to for preseason games.
We may see starters play more in the last game before the regular season. There now is a bye week between the end of preseason and week one.
After Saturday’s game, the Bears will return to Lake Forest for the last week of the preseason. They host the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, with a schedule kickoff at Noon, Central time.
The transition seems a bit sloppy. You have fans wondering if their starters are supposed to play some in week 2 vs week 3 of the pre-season. And is the opponent doing the same thing?
This also contributes to the first 3 weeks of NFL games being sloppy. I’ve noticed that the last couple years. Sitting players, not getting them up to speed runs into the regular season.