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Sept. 2 (UPI) -- The Chicago Bears are confident in Week 1 starter Andy Dalton and don't feel the need to "rush" rookie quarterback Justin Fields up the depth chart, general manager Ryan Pace told reporters. "I just feel like we're in a good position with Andy," Pace said Wednesday. "It starts with how we feel about Andy, and we're very confident in him and where he's at. So, there's no need for us to rush Justin."
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The Bears signed Dalton to a one-year contract in March. They selected Fields out of Ohio State with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft about a month later.
The Bears traded four draft picks to the New York Giants so they could move up in the order to select Fields.
Dalton completed 13 of 21 passes for one touchdown and an interception in two preseason starts.
Fields completed completed 30 of 49 passes for 276 yards, two scores and did not throw an interception in three preseason appearances. He also scored a rushing touchdown.
"I just have to take advantage of every practice rep I get," Fields told reporters Saturday. "There are no more preseason games. Every practice rep and play that I get, I have to treat it like a game and get better on that play."
Pace said Fields will be "better off" if he gets more time to learn and observe Dalton's performance and preparation at games and practices.
"Our plan is that Andy is our starter and we are rolling with that," Pace said. "I don't think anything has deviated."
Dalton completed 64.9% of his throws for 2,170 yards, 14 scores and eight interceptions in 11 games last season for the Dallas Cowboys. He jumped into a starting role due to a season-ending ankle injury sustained by Cowboys starter Dak Prescott.
Dalton spent his first nine seasons as the starting quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals.
"I'm in a great opportunity right here," Dalton told reporters Monday. "I knew coming in that I'd get a chance to start here. That's my focus, is on this year.
"The rest of my career is going to take care of itself, but my focus is on what I'm doing now. This is a big year for me and I've got to go just play like I know I can play."
The Bears went 8-8 in each of the last two seasons. They were 12-4 in 2018, coach Matt Nagy's first season. That was the Bears' first winning season since 2010.
The Bears offense ranked 22nd in points and 26th in yards last season. They ranked 18th in passing touchdowns and 22nd in passing yards.
Veteran quarterback Nick Foles, who sits at third on the depth chart, joined the Bears last off-season in a trade for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Foles missed seven games in 2020 due to injuries.
Mitchell Trubisky led the Bears with 2,055 passing yards, 16 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 10 games in 2020. The Bears chose not to re-sign Trubisky this off-season.
The Bears face the Los Angeles Rams at 8:20 p.m. EDT Sept. 12 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. The Rams allowed the fewest passing yards and passing scores in the NFL last season. They also led the NFC with 53 sacks.
