Bears GM: No need to rush Fields

The Chicago Bears remain steadfast in bringing rookie quarterback Justin Fields along slowly.

Bears general manager Ryan Pace defended the team's decision to keep veteran Andy Dalton as the starting quarterback despite Fields' impressive preseason performances, stating "there's no need to rush" the first-rounder, according to Matt Zahn of CBS Chicago.

"We feel good about Andy," Pace said, per Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Pace said Fields has been everything the Bears thought he could be when they traded up to the No. 11 pick to get him in this year's draft.

"We obviously knew about the arm talent, the athleticism, the work ethic, all of those things. But when you get (Fields) out there in an NFL environment, he stays calm in the moment. I think his heart rate stays low, he processes fast," Pace said, according to Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic.

"He goes through progressions. I think you feel like you see a lot of young quarterbacks who kind of stare down an intended target - you see him working through his progressions, which I think is really good to see from a young quarterback," he added.

However, Pace didn't budge on starting the season with Dalton under center or provide a timeline of when the Fields era might begin.

"We'll know when we know," Pace said, per the Chicago Tribune's Dan Wiederer.