Chicago Bears QB Justin Fields practices for the 1st time since dislocating his thumb. When will he start again?

Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields practiced Friday afternoon for the first time since dislocating his thumb on his right throwing hand during the Oct. 15 game against the Minnesota Vikings.

In the portion of practice open to the media at Halas Hall, Fields stretched with teammates and then took warmup throws to receivers while standing alongside practice-squad quarterback Trace McSorley.

Fields said at his locker after practice his grip strength is not all the way back and there was still a bit of pain as he participated in a limited fashion.

As he and the Bears consider when he can return, Fields said he needs to see “if I’m going to be able to make all the throws and be able to withstand hits and stuff like that during the game.”

Fields wore a glove when he threw but said he didn’t wear protection on his thumb underneath it.

“I just use a glove because I don’t have to grip the ball as hard with the glove,” he said. “So it just makes it easier to throw.”

The Bears listed Fields as doubtful to play against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at the Caesars Superdome. Bears coach Matt Eberflus had said Monday that Fields would not play, setting up undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent to make his third straight start.

Fields said he has been mentally preparing to start. But given his doubtful status and limited practice time, whether Fields might be ready to play on a shortened practice week in Week 10 is maybe the better question. The Bears play the Carolina Panthers on “Thursday Night Football” next week.

“That’s really depending on Justin, where his pain tolerance is when he throws and then also the functionality of it,” Eberflus said. “It’s day to day and then (it depends) where the trainers say he is and we look at it as a coaching staff and say, ‘Hey, this is where he is. He’s accurate. Looks good. Everything looks on point.’ And go from there.”

Speaking to reporters for the first time since the injury, Fields said his thumb didn’t hurt that badly when his hand hit the Soldier Field grass on a third-quarter Vikings sack. Then he saw what the injury looked like.

“I looked at my thumb and it just looked crazy,” Fields said. “Kind of when you look at something and you see your thumb in a position that it’s not supposed to be in.”

Fields said it was “definitely a blessing” to not need surgery, but it has been tough for him to sit out the last 2 1/2 weeks. Friday’s practice was the first time he has thrown since the injury.

“It’s definitely felt longer than that, I can tell you that,” he said. “But I’m just doing what I can, being the best teammate that I can, just helping Tyson and the rest of the guys get ready to play.”

Fields offered a positive assessment of Bagent, who has completed 56 of 80 passes for 477 yards, a touchdown, three interceptions and a 73.8 passer rating in Fields’ place. Bagent is 1-1 as a starter.

“From the day he stepped in, he’s come in and worked hard,” Fields said. “The first game, against the Raiders, he played great. He played his butt off. He knows he can come to me for any questions and I’ll help him out. He’s been leading the guys. He’s ready to go.”

Fields of course has incentive to return as quickly as possible as he tries to cement himself as the Bears quarterback of the future.

He has had his ups and downs this season while throwing for 1,201 yards, 11 touchdowns and six interceptions with a 91.6 passer rating in six games. He threw for eight touchdowns in a two-game span against the Denver Broncos and Washington Commanders before a rough start to the Vikings game.

Fields would have eight more games left to play this season if he returns against the Panthers. But the quarterback echoed his coach’s assessment that he’s “day to day” as they make that decision.

“I’ve been progressing each and every day,” Fields said. “But we’ll see.”