The NFL season is here, and there are a number of entertaining Week 1 matchups, including the 49ers vs. Bears. San Francisco and Chicago may not have the offensive firepower of other matchups this week, but there are still plenty of storylines to follow.
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The first is the quarterbacks on each side. Trey Lance was given the keys to the organization, but his leash may not be very long with Jimmy Garoppolo returning to a win-now roster. The move made sense for the 49ers, who now have a contingency plan. Ultimately, it should not matter if Lance performs like the player they expect after trading up to draft him #3 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Moving on to the #11 overall pick in the same draft class, Justin Fields. Fields has the opportunity to make the Niners organization question their decision to pass on him two years ago. He will have to overcome a lack of surrounding talent. It is clear Lance is in the better situation to succeed, but Fields still must show he is the long-term answer for the Bears this season. New GM Ryan Poles’ offseason moves indicate that 2023 will be a more aggressive year in building around Fields. Still, it remains to be seen if this will come at the detriment of the organization’s most valuable asset.