Andy Dalton has a number of reasons to feel bitter. He was initially promised he’d be the starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears back in March. Then the team turned around and drafted Justin Fields. This subjected him to endless questions about what he thought of the situation. All while he was trying to prepare for what might be his last shot to start in the NFL. Then in just his second game of the year, he injures his knee.
If people needed a reminder of who Dalton is as a person, all they have to do is watch NFL Films highlights from the game. Late in the 4th quarter, the Bears were nursing a 20-17 lead. They faced 3rd and 9 and the prospect of handing the ball right back to the Cincinnati Bengals who’d just scored twice in the past handful of seconds. Somebody needed to make a play. Fields decided to do it himself, shaking off a near-sack by Trey Hendrickson to scramble for 10 yards and a crucial first down.
Many can say that was the play that won the game. And Dalton knew it.
His pure enthusiasm for Fields’ big moment is a reminder that he is a good teammate before anything else. He wasn’t thinking about his job. It was about realizing the Bears had likely just gotten their first win of the season and FIelds made it happen. Andy Dalton was, is, and will remain a total class act. Even if Sunday might’ve been the last time he’ll see the field this season.
That depends on what happens over the next few weeks. He will work to recover from a bone bruise injury, meaning Fields will be the starter. If he delivered a string of solid games? Then it’s a safe bet Dalton will remain on the bench even when he’s back healthy. That is the unfortunate reality of the situation he ended up in.
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