Nagy: Dalton 'is the starter,' will get 1st-team reps at OTAs

Veteran Andy Dalton will be the Chicago Bears' QB1 at OTAs, despite the team trading up to take Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields with the No. 11 pick in the draft last month.

"Andy is the starter. Andy's going to get the one reps," Bears head coach Matt Nagy said Sunday, according to NFL.com's Adam Maya.

The Bears signed Dalton to a one-year, $10-million deal in March. Fields, however, has been open about wanting to win the starting job.

"I think everybody on our team should be striving for a starting job, and if you're not, then there's no reason for you to be here. So, of course, I'm going to do everything that I can to get that starting job," Fields said recently, per NFL.com's Grant Gordon.

Despite the excitement surrounding the potential answer under center for a club that has long sought a franchise quarterback, Nagy said the Bears have to be cognizant of not bringing Fields along too quickly.

"I know that time is the biggest question right now for Justin, and I completely understand that, because there is an excitement, there is that want for all of us to see what Justin can do," Nagy said. "We'd be lying to you if we didn't say that or believe that. But we got to make sure as we go through this thing that we also do what's best for the Bears and for Justin."

Copyright (C) 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.