Bears vs. Packers NFL injury report, spread, odds: Justin Fields will start at quarterback; Jaire Alexander, Za'Darius Smith and David Bakhtiari may return

The talk on sports radio this week in Chicago was whether the Bears should or shouldn't allow rookie quarterback Justin Fields to play again this season, both to protect his fractured ribs and protect his future behind a bad offensive line and with one of the worst receiving groups in the NFL. However, Fields has been medically cleared and will start Sunday night in Green Bay. The Packers are currently -12.5 at Caesars Sportsbook and could get back three key players themselves. I have seen this spread drop to -11.5 at some books with the Fields news, and he is more dangerous in theory than Andy Dalton. 

Fields, the No. 11 overall pick out of Ohio State, has played in 10 games and started eight, going 2-6. He has completed 58.1 percent of his passes for 1,361 yards, four TDs and eight picks for a rating of 69.0 that is 32nd in the NFL. The only rookie with a worse number is the Jets' Zach Wilson (66.2 rating). Fields also has rushed for 311 yards and a TD.

In Week 6, Fields started against the Packers and Green Bay won 24-14 at Soldier Field. Fields was 16-for-27 for 147 yards, a TD and a pick and rushed for 43 yards. Bears No. 1 running back David Montgomery missed it injured. No. 1 wideout Allen Robinson had four catches for 53 yards, but he's expected to miss a fourth straight game Sunday with a hamstring injury.

Since the start of 2019, the Bears are 0-11 ATS against teams that are at least three games over .500, 1-8 ATS as underdogs of at least six points and 0-4 ATS in Sunday night games.

Green Bay comes out of its bye week and is hoping to get All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander, All-Pro linebacker Za'Darius Smith and Pro Bowl offensive tackle David Bakhtiari back from long-term injuries. Combined, they've played five of a possible 36 games. In 2019-20, Smith was third in the NFL with a combined 26 sacks, second with 60 quarterback hits and 11th with six forced fumbles.

Aaron Rodgers pondered surgery for his broken toe during the break but apparently didn't do so. Rodgers has a 22-5 record against Chicago – 20-7 against the spread -- including playoffs with a passer rating of 105.9. One of those five losses came in 2013 when Rodgers left the game injured after the first series.

Including the postseason, the Packers have won 20 of the last 23 meetings vs. the Bears, including the past five (5-0 ATS). Rather amazingly, the Packers have held the Bears to 28 points or fewer in each of the last 27 games. The last time Chicago scored more than 28 was in a 35-7 win on Dec. 23, 2007.

At 9-3, Green Bay is a game behind Arizona (10-2) for the NFC's top seed, but the Packers win the head-to-head tiebreaker. Tampa Bay is also 9-3.

Via SportsLine oddsmakers: Which team earns the NFC's No. 1 playoff seed?

• Cardinals Even
• Bucs +200
• Packers +250

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