NASHVILLE, Tenn. — It was difficult to get a clear read on Justin Fields in a preseason game that was allegedly supposed to be one last chance for the Bears to gauge his progress before the season.

With a newly stitched together offensive line and none of the Bears’ top skill players dressed against the Titans on Saturday, there wasn’t much Fields could show other than how well he has perfected the art of the handoff and occasionally forcing a third-down throw to receivers who probably won’t make the roster.

If it was too risky to play any of the starting receivers or tight ends, shouldn’t it have been too risky to send Fields out there, too? It’s another contradiction in how the Bears have handled the first several months of what they envision to be a long-term future with Fields.

Then again, what Fields encountered in the first half of the Bears’ 27-24 win could be comparable to what he eventually must deal with as their starter.

The real question isn’t whether Fields is ready for the Bears, but rather whether they’re ready for him. Everything about him points toward him being capable of playing when the Bears open Sept. 12. But make no mistake, whenever he plays, it’s going to be difficult.

Sure, Allen Robinson, Darnell Mooney, David Montgomery and others should be playing then, but this is the best offensive line the Bears can manufacture. And they’ve put on some dreadful offensive performances under coach Matt Nagy even when they had their full personnel.

The team was limited to 350 or fewer yards 20 times over the last two seasons and held to 25 or fewer points 24 times.

All of that being said, the Bears can’t wait until everything is perfect to play Fields. Who knows how long that could take?

There is a long line of quarterbacks, like Andy Dalton and Nick Foles, who need everything else in place for them to succeed. It sounds dangerous to throw him in against demolition men like the Rams’ Aaron Donald, but they can’t hide him forever. And he’s built to beat defenses of that caliber.

The Bears drafted Fields because his talent could put him in the tier of quarterbacks who elevate everything around them and offsets shortfalls the way Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers do.

Fields gave a glimpse of that on his final play before jogging to the locker room at halftime and calling it a night.

With just under a minute left in the half, he was a moment from being sacked from either the left or right, but stepped up and ran from it. As he rolled right, he threw a 20-yard strike to fully covered tight end Jesper Horsted in the end zone. It was a narrow opening before Horsted’s momentum would’ve taken him out of bounds, and Fields hit it the way Mahomes would.

It doesn’t matter who was on the field at that point. That’s a remarkable play that many quarterbacks don’t have any business even trying to make. If he can throw open a No. 4 tight end who is likely headed for the practice squad, imagine what he’ll do with Jimmy Graham and Cole Kmet.

The rest of Fields’ night was forgettable: 6 of 9 completions for 34 yards in an extremely bland game plan that also led to the Bears running nine times for 32 yards. It wasn’t revealing and it wasn’t meant to be.

But that touchdown pass outshined everything else.

And it didn’t come out of nowhere. Fields has been making similar throws in practice over the past month and providing many other indicators that he’s primed to be a star and doesn’t need the red-shirt season the Bears plotted for him. He persistently pushes past mistakes. He’s elusive and prudent as a runner. His accuracy on deep balls is something the Bears have been missing for a long time.

That red-shirt plan is for quarterbacks who need extensive development to adjust to the NFL. Fields isn’t a project. There’s no guessing about what he can be. He’s not coming into this with 13 collegiate starts like Mitch Trubisky. He was overwhelming in two seasons at Ohio State, he was the second-best quarterback in college football and there’s every reason to think he’ll continue on that trajectory in the NFL.

Waiting just to wait isn’t a good reason to keep Fields on the bench. Predicating his playing time on whether Dalton flounders or gets hurt doesn’t make sense, either.

The Bears have so much riding on Fields, that there’s no time to waste. As soon as he proves he’s at least viable, it’s time to let him learn on the job. The more he plays, the better he’ll get. Start the clock on that now.

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Boys basketball casts a big shadow at Young.

But Pat McHale, Aleks Dale and their teammates are making headway in getting some attention for the football program too.

McHale ran for two touchdowns and threw for another Saturday, and Dale filled in at tight end and added a special-teams score as Young opened with a 52-6 win over Clemente at Rockne.

It’s a pivotal season for the Dolphins, who have joined Public League powers Phillips and Taft in the Illini Land of Lincoln section after going 3-0 as a member of the Illini Prairie State in the spring.

“Our goal, moving up in this top conference, is to show Whitney Young is an elite CPS team,” said McHale, a senior quarterback and safety. “We had our biggest freshman class and we’re looking to build for the future.

“We don’t want this to be one-and-done in this top conference.”

That would be a big step forward for a program that had to hit the reset button in 2017 when it shut down in midseason because of low numbers.

Young’s Anthony Hood (3) looks to escape from Clemente’s Ricardo Cruz (28) at Rockne Stadium in Chicago, Saturday, August 28, 2021. Kevin Tanaka/For the Sun-Times

“When I first got here, it was a year after they got rid of the team and had to cancel the season,” McHale said. “When I was a freshman, people didn’t even know we played football that year.

“Now I feel like we’re getting recognition and praise from the school.”

“We’re having more fans, people take us more seriously around the school,” Dale said.

Credit that to players like McHale; Dale, a junior who plays all over the field; and senior running back Frank Schotanus, who ran for two TDs against Clemente.

Dale, a 6-foot, 215-pounder, played tailback in the spring and was scheduled to start on the offensive line this fall.

But tight end Sam Wyatt was sidelined by injury Saturday, so coach Dan Finger moved Dale there.

“He’s just a freak,” Finger said of Dale. “When we get our best 11, Aleks is going to play guard.”

That’s fine with Dale, who recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for Young’s first touchdown on Saturday.

“Aleks didn’t bat an eye,” Finger said of the position shifts. “We said, ‘We think you’re better when you’re at guard.’ He said, ‘Sign me up.’

“He goes where we need him. He knows the whole offense.”

McHale, meanwhile, is locked in at quarterback. He was 5-for-7 passing for 97 yards and ran four times for 28 yards.

“He’s the quintessential lead-by-example [player] and it’s been awesome to see him develop his voice in the past year,” Finger said. “

An indication of McHale’s standing among his peers: Finger said he received 57 of 60 votes for captain.

Young is farther along than Clemente, which dressed 16 players on Saturday after having an average of 10 players at preseason workouts.

Coach Patrick Murray sees brighter days ahead with school starting on Monday and players returning to practice after finishing their summer jobs.

“In a couple of weeks, I think we’ll be a lot better,” Murray said.

One highlight for the Wildcats on Saturday was Johnny Williams’ 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

“Johnny’s a speedster,” Murray said. “He was one of the guys who was working so he hasn’t had much practice time yet. … We’re just excited about the future.”

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Willie Smith’s eyes lit up when he heard the total: 265 yards.

”Wow,” Smith said. ”In my first game? I was expecting 100 yards, minimum. But nothing like that.”

The freshman running back had touchdown runs of 70, 45 and 15 yards to lead Phoenix to a 62-20 victory Saturday against host Back of the Yards.

Both teams sat out the spring season because of COVID-19 and both have new coaches. Mark Morgan, who previously coached at Washington, has taken over the Bobcats. Longtime Curie assistant Bill Stritzel, who was recently at St. Ignatius, is now in charge at Phoenix.

The Firebirds are clearly following the old Curie blueprint. Phoenix quarterback Jamon Gooden didn’t even attempt a pass. He impressed as a sophomore and was frustrated sitting out in the spring.

”I wanted to be out there so bad,” Gooden said. ”It was tough missing my whole junior year.”

Stritzel said he thinks Gooden, who is 6-3 and 190 pounds, can play college football somewhere. He had six carries for 96 yards and three touchdowns and was also a force on defense, with three tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble.

”There’s no question he can play college football, and his grades are good enough to get him in,” Stritzel said. ”I heard there were coaches hoping to see him play over the spring. He’s been unbelievable. He’s a leader and has been a pleasure to coach.”

Stritzel took over the Firebirds’ program in June and has only 17 players.

”It’s been difficult,” Stritzel said. ”We haven’t had a lot of time to get ready, so there were a lot of mistakes, but the kids played hard.”

Phoenix junior Jose Lagunas also had a memorable first varsity game. He returned interceptions for touchdowns in the first and second quarters.

”On the first one, I wasn’t even looking at the ball,” Lagunas said. ”It came right into my hands. The second one, I had to run for it a little bit. I was nervous at first. But after we got the big lead, all my nerves went away.”

Back of the Yards is in full rebuilding mode. Sheamus Murphy, now the coach at Eisenhower, led the Bobcats to playoff appearances in 2018 and 2019. He was 28-10 in four seasons at the school and had built a solid culture. The program had decent numbers.

Morgan’s squad, however, took the field with only 17 players.

”It’s disappointing because it seems like we’ve been de-emphasizing the game of football and its importance in life,” Morgan said. ”That’s been hard to see. But we have some good leadership in CPS now and in the coaches’ association, so hopefully they will restore the game to prominence in the city and allow it to bless the kids and get them somewhere positive in life.”

Back of the Yards never gave up, despite the running clock in the second half.

Senior Jose Santoyo had touchdown runs of 76 and 31 yards for the Bobcats, and Axel Madero ripped off an 80-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter.

”We were losing horribly, but we just kept pushing,” Santoyo said. ”It was just amazing to be back out there. I missed playing. I missed the field. Honestly, I loved getting hit again. It was amazing. It gets me pumped.”

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Danny Trevathan, the most overqualified person to participate in Saturday’s exhibition finale, finished his brief stint on the field by hitting the bench. The Bears inside linebacker intercepted Titans quarterback Matt Barkley halfway through the first quarter. After undercutting Barkley’s throw at the Bears’ 7, he ran up the right sideline for 24 yards. As he ran out of bounds along the Titans’ sideline, he was shoved, ice-skated across the baby blue tarp and sat down on the Titans bench.

Trevathan, a 10-year veteran, was one of four projected first-team defensive players who started the game. Nose tackle Eddie Goldman started, too; like Trevathan, he hadn’t appeared in a preseason game before Saturday. Both came out late in the first quarter.

Cornerbacks Duke Shelley and Kindle Vildor started, too; Shelley could be the starting slot cornerback, while Vildor is competing with veteran Desmond Trufant for the spot opposite Jaylon Johnson. Trufant, who had missed time following the death of his father, did not play.

The Bears played five starters on offense: the members of the offensive line, who played together for the first time this preseason. Receiver Damiere Byrd, who has made the team, returned a punt for the first time this exhibition season but did not play on offense.

Backups who appear to have made the team include tight end Jesse James, receiver Marquise Goodwin and inside linebacker Alec Ogletree. They didn’t play Saturday.

No Vrabel

Mike Vrabel didn’t coach the Titans on Saturday, five days after he tested positive for the coronavirus. Special teams coach Craig Aukerman took Vrabel’s place and was in charge of player communication while football development coordinator John Streicher advised the team on playing time and game decisions.

The Titans have been overwhelmed by the coronavirus this week. Saturday, receiver Racey McMath became the seventh Titans player on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Twelve players and coaches missed time this week because of the coronavirus.

Pick six

Halfway through the second quarter, outside linebacker Trevis Gipson hit Titans quarterback Logan Woodside as he threw. The ball fluttered out to Woodside’s left — and into the arms of Bears cornerback Tre Roberson, who returned the pass 27 yards for a touchdown.

Roberson, the Illinois State quarterback-turned-CFL-cornerback, is a practice squad candidate.

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The Cubs’ 2021 season has been marred by injuries and that continued as infielder David Bote was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right ankle sprain. Bote injured the ankle during batting practice on Friday as he rolled his ankle on a baseball while going through his pregame routine. He walked off the field with a significant limp as he walked to the clubhouse with the team’s training staff.

It doesn’t sound like Bote will be back in the lineup anytime soon and with only five weeks left in the season, the sprain could end his season. Bote hasn’t had much luck this season, missing a significant amount of time with a separated left shoulder.

“It’s pretty nasty how hard he rolled his ankle,” manager David Ross said before Saturday’s game. “Ball was laying over there and that kind of writing where it’s even hard to see and stepped right on it and he rolled it pretty good.

“Got some test results back and it’s a significant sprain that we’ll have to treat and try to get him back as soon as we can. But no timetable at the moment.”

The Cubs made several roster moves on Saturday, including promoting infielder Alfonso Rivas for Triple-A Iowa. Rivas, 24, has had a strong season in Des Moines in 2021, slashing .284/.405/.411 with four homers.

It was a long day for Rivas on Saturday, who found out late he’d be making his first trip to the major leagues right before he went to sleep.

“Around one o’clock this morning,” Rivas said. “We had finished the game, coming back to the hotel, eating dinner and getting ready for bed. And [Marty Peevy} manager in Iowa, he calls me and says, ‘Hey, where are you at?’ [I say] the hotel, getting ready to go to bed.

“He was like, ‘Well, come to the field. You need to pack all your stuff because you’re going to the big leagues. I was like, I didn’t really believe him at first. … But yeah, it was a very surreal moment and now I’m here and very blessed, really.

The Cubs also promoted right-hander Scott Effross from Iowa. Effross, 27, has also had a strong season in the minors going 7-2 with a 3.41 ERA in 31 appearances. He hasn’t allowed an earned run in the month of August.

“He’s a guy that actually made a lot of changes,” Ross said. “Dropping down and changing the arm slot. Real sink action for righties. Sinker, four-seam, slider has played really well for him. He’s got a changeup, as well. He’s had a lot of success, so I think he deserves a shot.”

To make room for Rivas and Effross on the 40-man roster, right-handers Jake Jewell and Ryan Meisinger were both designated for assignment.

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As Matt Minich helped newer members and dogs work on basics such as the “heel,” he said, “Don’t be afraid to praise your dog. We’re out here having fun, not just correcting them.”

That set the tone Sunday at the monthly training day for the Illinois chapter of North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association at Des Plaines State Fish and Wildlife Area.

Working dogs is serious but can also can be fun for both dogs and members, some of whom Porter aptly described as characters. I’ve been at some dog events that were as serious as Henry Kissinger at the Geneva peace talks, to date myself.

Porter, a special education teacher, invited me. I met him on opening day at LaSalle Lake 13 years ago when I was fascinated by a 4-wheel bike contraption he used to navigate the cooling lake.

“I used to tournament bass fish,” he said. “This has replaced that.”

The dog training and chapter work became important after he got Bodo, a pudelpointer. He is named for Sigbot “Bodo” Winterhelt, who introduced the pudelpointer to North America in 1956. He was also one of the NAVHDA founders.

“I realize I am able to get a dog huntable,” Porter said. “These guys have dogs with manners.”

Nicely put.

I came on a day with one of the biggest gatherings with many newer members, yet things ran smoothly. Longer-time members pitched right in. Minich is the training director, but it takes a club to train a dog.

“We’re trying to emphasize foundations,” said Tim Moore, chapter president. “Training is all built on foundations: basic obedience, hold, [etc.]. Ninety percent of bird dog work can be done at home, the garage or backyard.”

One thing club members do is help each other in the field work and passing on learned knowledge and tips.

Matt Minich does some one-on-one during a training day with the North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association at Des Plaines State Fish and Wildlife Area.Dale Bowman

Minich and other experienced members did one-on-ones with newer members before field work. While working with a newer member on leash work, Minich said to handle the dogs with opposite hand to the shooting hand, a little thing that matters. (Some members do not hunt their dogs.)

When Porter did field work, very brief in the heat, four members came along. Two released the two pheasants at the right time. Two walked with him. When Bodo busted a quail wild, then chased it, a couple members suggested ways to work on that. On the second bird, Bodo held the point well and was rewarded with retrieving the bird.

Porter used a basketball analogy for Bodo not being allowed to retrieve the first bird, “You don’t run a play correctly, you don’t get the slam dunk.”

Afterward, Porter gave Bodo a good dunking in the water tank.

“He is making progress, that is what I care about,” Porter said.

Bodo, Sean Porter’s pudelpointer, goes on point during a training day for the Illinois chapter of North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association at Des Plaines State Fish and Wildlife Area. Dale Bowman

Gina Jones was the only woman on Sunday and she fit right in. Her dog was a German shorthair, Axel Vom Hundehaus. Even walking around, he carried himself special. They qualified for the NAVHDA Invitational in September.

I counted German shorthairs, a pudelpointer, Brittanys, English setters and a Bracco Italiano.

Part of the training has to do with simply acclimating a dog to being around other dogs and people.

I ended the morning watching a duck search on a backwater. A duck search is basically where a dog searches blind for a released duck. I marveled at a swimming dog able to spot or smell a duck, then enthusiastically go after it. It might have been a dog’s work, but it looked like they were having fun.

For chapter information, go to illinoisnavhda.org.

A club member works his dog in a backwater at Des Plaines State Fish and Wildlife Area during the duck search portion of a training day for the Illinois chapter of North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association. Dale Bowman

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CHAMPAIGN — Week Zero? So it was.

Weak zeros? Maybe not Illinois. Maybe not anymore.

The Illini’s 30-22 upset of Nebraska in the opening game of the college football season was no masterpiece. It probably didn’t keep a national audience on FOX on the edge of its collective seat for anywhere close to 60 minutes. It certainly was a nightmarish start to the season for embattled coach Scott Frost and the Huskers, who fell to 12-21 under the school’s last national title-winning quarterback.

But it was every bit what Illinois needed in Game 1 of the Bret Bielema era. It was a fine place to start — more than just any old building block — as the Illini seek to end a streak of losing seasons at nine.

Illinois starting quarterback Brandon Peters was knocked out of the game in the first quarter and didn’t return. He was replaced by Artur Sitkowski, a onetime highly touted recruit who began his career at Rutgers and had his moments in his Illini debut — the biggest highlight a perfect 45-yard completion to Deuce Spann that set up the touchdown that made it 30-9 in the third quarter.

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