THE DROP-BACK: Thursday, September 30 - bears qb musical chairs

bears

Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy said all three quarterbacks will have the chance to start Week Four. So, where does that leave them? No final decisions have been made yet, but Andy Dalton and Justin Fields practiced on Wednesday. Nagy is still insisting that Dalton is the starter if he's healthy. I'm waiting on the edge of my seat.

Bears head coach Matt Nagy: "We expect both Andy and Justin in some capacity at practice today... In regards to the depth chart with them, Andy is the 1, Justin's the 2, Nick is the 3."

Nagy adds that they've had conversations about play calling duties, but he'll keep internal.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) September 29, 2021

patriots

One of the best things about having a rookie quarterback is that you have to, at some point, basically expect some growing pains. That's what happened with New England Patriots rookie quarterback Mac Jones last Sunday. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels mentioned that it's expected, but it also can't become the norm. "You may have a bad quarter, may have a bad day, you may have a bad week, but it doesn't mean you can let that snowball into a bad season. Just taking as much as you can from each opportunity to learn. The adversities are sometimes our best teachers."

jaguars

Speaking of rookie QBs, Trevor Lawrence is also dealing with something similar. The Jacksonville Jaguars haven't won a game this season, but Lawrence says he can feel himself growing and learning in his first season in the NFL. "I feel like every week I've gotten better. I definitely feel the progress. I feel like I'm seeing it really well. I feel good about where I am."

steelers

While we're talking about teams that haven't been playing well this season, may I present to you the Pittsburgh Steelers. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger seems to be one of the more significant problems, showing his age and inability to move around as much as he would probably like. Roethlisberger is (of course) saying that nothing is on any one person or position. "I think there's not this one big glaring thing. It's just a little thing here, a little thing there, which I think is why we can be encouraged as an offense that it's not that far off."

titans

Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill might be down two receivers this week, as both Julio Jones and AJ Brown are dealing with injuries. However, Tannehill somehow isn't worried (I am). "Something we believe in this organization is 'next man up' mentality. Not sure who is going to end up trotting out there on Sunday, but I'm confident in whoever it is."

dolphins

I love a good revenge game. But apparently, Jacoby Brissett doesn't. With Tua Tagovailoa still out due to a rib issue, Brissett will be starting another week for the Miami Dolphins. And he gets to play his old team, the Indianapolis Colts. Brissett spent four seasons with the team. "I'm not in here for like a revenge game or anything like that. I want to go to win."

- other notes -

• Josh Allen was named the AFC offensive player of the week.
  
• Matthew Stafford was awarded NFC offensive player of the week honors.
  
• Jameis Winston practiced in full on Wednesday, but also has a knee injury.
• Lamar Jackson is listed on the Ravens' injury report with a back injury and did not practice on Wednesday.