Even at 3-11 with no playoff hopes, the Bears still have some goals in the final three games of the season. But one goal should stand at the top of the list:

Protect your quarterback.

Even if Justin Fields doesn’t finish a game-winning drive or throw for more than 200 yards against the Bills, Lions or Vikings, at this point there’s only thing that can turn the arrow pointing down heading into the 2023 offseason — an injury to Fields that impacts his offseason or beyond.

It’s a legitimate concern after Fields was sacked six times for 61 yards in losses in a 25-20 loss to the Eagles on Sunday at Soldier Field. The Bears have allowed 48 sacks this season and are 32nd and last in sacks allowed per pass play.

“I’m always concerned about Fields,” Bears coach Matt Eberflus said. “That’s the franchise quarterback, this is always a big issue. So we’re always looking to protect him and do a better job of that. And certainly we need to do a better job than we did yesterday.”

Sunday’s game was close to a worst-case scenario for the Bears. The Eagles have the best defensive front in the NFL and came in with a league-leading 49 sacks. The Bears’ offensive line, which has been in flux all season, suffered another blow when guard Teven Jenkins was carried off on a stretcher with a neck injury four plays into the game.

Not only that, but the Bears inserted Alex Leatherwood at right tackle in a rotation with veteran Riley Reiff. So for most of the game, the Bears had players at right guard and tackle — Michael Schofield and Leatherwood — who had never played together.

Leatherwood was beaten by linebacker Haason Reddick for a sack and allowed three other pressures in 10 pass-blocking snaps. He did not play in the second half.

“He has some good moments going against some good pass rushers,” Eberflus said. “So I think he learned some as well. He had some adversity. That is always going to happen when you play some good rushers. He just has to build upon that and learn from that experience.”

It remains to be seen if that will happen. Eberflus would not commit to continuing Leatherwood’s audition Saturday against the Bills. While Leatherwood, a 2021 first-round draft pick by the Raiders, is a potential starter in 2023, it might not be worth the risk to see any more. That’s one reason why the Bears acquired Reiff in the first place — he’s a proven veteran with enough experience to hold his own.

“We’ll see what happens as we go,” Eberflus said.

Jenkins’ status is in doubt after the injury and it’s likely Schofield will start against the Bills. That at least would give the Bears two veterans on the right side of the line in Reiff and Schofield.

The Bears also won’t be facing the Eagles again. The Bills also are one of the NFL’s best defenses — second in points allowed and ninth in yards allowed — but 13th in sacks per pass play. The Lions are 26th in sacks per play. The Vikings are 22nd.

Fields has been pretty sturdy this season and he recovers quickly. He did not play against the Jets because of a separated shoulder, but returned the next week against the Packers.

Fields missed one snap against the Eagles on Sunday, when he cramped up prior to a key third-and-14 play in the fourth quarter. Nathan Peterman replaced him and threw an incompletion intended for Nsimba Webster.

“Yeah, that was a little stressful,” Eberflus said.

And that was just one play. Fields said he’ll do a better job of hydrating pre-game to avoid the cramping problem in the future. But Fields taking care of himself is one issue. The Bears taking care of Fields is a much bigger one.

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Bears safety Eddie Jackson seems to have avoided the worst.

He left the field Nov. 27 against the Jets with a Lisfranc injury to his left foot. That’s a scary diagnosis — the injury has cost some players their careers — but Jackson learned last week he won’t need surgery.

“That was a great feeling. …” he said. “I’m glad I was able to avoid the needle.”

Jackson, safety Jaquan Brisker and linebacker Sterling Weatherford went to the Greater Chicago Food Depository on Monday. In conjunction with Campbell’s Chunky Soup, Jackson donated 100,000 meals to the food depository, which works with partners throughout Chicago to distribute food to the needy.

Jackson didn’t think his injury was serious at first — he told trainer Andre Tucker to give him an injection and let him return. He learned just how serious a Lisfranc injury could be when he went to the locker room and tried to stand on his toes. He couldn’t.

A Lisfranc injury occurs when a player suffers damage to bone and ligaments in his or her midfoot. Jackson said he only had small damage.

Jackson, whose left foot remains immobilized, is due for an MRI on Dec. 30 or 31. He said he’s not sure when he’ll be back to normal. He’s taking his recovery slow but said the injury shouldn’t keep him from participating in offseason activities this spring.

“(Doctors said it’s all about my body, how I heal,” he said.

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The Bears expect to restore their rushing attack with the return of running back Khalil Herbert on Saturday against the Bills. He’ll rejoin David Montgomery in the backfield after missing four games because of a hip injury.

Bears coach Matt Eberflus said Herbert will practice this week.

“He is cleared, ready to go,” he said. “He’s got all his jumps, his speed, he’s been cutting, he’s been moving — he looks great. We’re excited about his return.”

Herbert, also a kick returner, got hurt in the Nov. 13 loss to the Lions and went on injured reserve. This is his first game eligible to return, and the Bears will need to add him to the active roster by Friday.

Herbert was 11th in the NFL with 643 yards rushing (at a rate of six per carry) at the time of his injury and had four touchdown runs. He also has six catches for 62 yards and a touchdown.

In the four games without Herbert, Montgomery ran for 260 yards and three touchdowns and caught 13 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown.

Herbert had a promising rookie season after the Bears drafted him in the sixth round out of Virginia Tech and took a significant step forward this season. With Montgomery set to hit free agency and Herbert having two years left on his contract, the remaining games are an opportunity for Herbert to audition for a bigger role for next season.

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The Blackhawks sent one notable prospect down to the AHL but called up another in a series of four significant transactions Monday.

Goaltender Arvid Soderblom was sent to Rockford with goaltender Alex Stalock (concussion) finally activated off injured reserve. Meanwhile, defenseman Isaak Phillips was called up from Rockford with defenseman Jarred Tinordi (facial fracture) placed on injured reserve.

Soderblom, 23, held up admirably well in a difficult situation over the past two months and proved he has high potential to be an NHL starter down the road. A rough final start Sunday against the Rangers dropped his save percentage to .894, but he still saved 1.5 goals above expected.

Stalock’s return finally restores the Hawks’ goalie tandem to the veteran duo it was originally supposed to be: Petr Mrazek and Stalock. It’s unclear if Stalock will start one of the Hawks’ last two games — Wednesday against the Predators; Friday against the Blue Jackets — before the NHL’s Christmas break.

Tinordi’s stretch of bad injury luck continued Sunday when he took a slap shot to the mouth, and he’ll miss at least those two games as a result.

But Phillips’ first Hawks stint of the season will be interesting. Already in his third pro season at age 21, he has ascended rapidly up the Hawks’ prospect hierarchy after making his first four NHL appearances last season. He has dominated in Rockford, leading all AHL defensemen with a plus-17 rating and ranking ninth among AHL defensemen in scoring (with 17 points in 25 games).

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MINNEAPOLIS – Point guard Goran Dragic spent two seasons with Jimmy Butler.

It took Dragic just a few minutes to figure out exactly what Butler was about when the former Bulls All-Star first arrived on South Beach.

“I loved having him as a teammate because with Jimmy you know where you stand right away,” Dragic said. “If you’re willing to sacrifice for the team, he’ll have your back 100% because that’s how he plays. If you don’t sacrifice, he’s going to have a problem with you.”

So who on this current Bulls roster is holding teammates accountable?

Who has the onions and respect of everyone wearing the uniform to let it be known that what’s been taking place the last week is not only unacceptable, but will also lead by example in showing that it can’t happen anymore?

That should be the real concern for the entire Bulls organization. That type of player might not exist in that locker room.

“We’re not playing for each other,” Dragic said after the embarrassing 150-126 Sunday loss to the undermanned Timberwolves. “It’s as simple as that.”

A damning statement from a veteran who has spent 15 seasons in the NBA and has seen it all, and not the only one Dragic made.

“Somebody told me – and he was right – it’s easy to talk about sacrifice,” Dragic said. “But somebody else’s sacrifice is easier to talk about. But when it comes to you, when you have to sacrifice for the team, then it’s a different story.”

Dragic didn’t name names, and he didn’t have to.

As soon as Zach LaVine put pen to paper on his five-year, $215 million max contract, it became his team. That contract should carry that responsibility. If it doesn’t then the Bulls front office has to look in the mirror and evaluate their own decision-making process.

That’s why the one player that has to wear that, and at the same time lead the charge in trying to turn the effort level on both ends of the court around, starts and stops with LaVine.

Heading into Tuesday’s showdown against the Heat in Miami, LaVine will do so with a defensive efficiency rating of 114.9. Unacceptable for his athletic ability, especially after the two-time All-Star showed with Team USA and the first six weeks of last season, that he can be a high-effort defender.

Not an elite stopper – LaVine will never be that – but effort is something he can control.

Yet on Sunday, there was barely any of that.

The Timberwolves did what they wanted on the offensive end, wherever they wanted. And while LaVine wasn’t the only culprit by any means, there’s 215 million reasons why he’s the face of the franchise and has to be held at that highest standard.

To his credit, he’s acknowledged after the last two-straight losses that he had to be better. But talk is cheap at this point.

Just look at one simple stat: Charges taken so far this season.

Alex Caruso leads the team with six, 33-year-old DeMar DeRozan has four, and reserve Coby White has three. LaVine? Zero.

How about two-point shots contested by the backcourt players? Ayo Dosunmu, Caruso and DeRozan each rank higher than LaVine.

Coincidence or stats simply being bent a certain way? Maybe, but the eye test doesn’t lie. LaVine was a turnstile on the defensive end against the Timberwolves.

The guy eating up the highest amount of payroll can’t be that. Not if that team has high aspirations.

“It’s hard to be a great anything as a group unless you’re really going to do it for the guy next to you,” coach Billy Donovan said. “That’s what it comes down to. We have to do it for each other.”

But there has to be a starting point in that sacrifice and selflessness. And he wears No. 8.

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Marist is a particularly interesting team this season. Three freshmen and two sophomores are key players. Those prospects will bring out the recruiting evaluators and highlight-video makers.

But coach Brian Hynes is depending on a core of seniors to carry the load. Mason Ross, Kaden White, Justin Lang and Dermot Smyth are solid, unselfish players that have provided a foundation for the RedHawks to succeed this season. They are off to a 10-1 start.

“They are high character kids that don’t care about stats,” Hynes said. “They care about their teammates. They are the kids you dream about coaching.”

Marist picked up its first loss of the season on Friday, falling at home to St. Patrick. After the game, Hynes wondered how his team would respond.

“Will we come together or stronger or start to show the chinks in the armor,” Hynes asked.

His group responded with a big road win against Naperville North on Saturday. The freshmen and sophomores were decent in the loss to the Shamrocks, but rose up and starred on Saturday.

Freshman guard Adoni Vassilakis scored 15 points and 6-6 freshman Stephen Brown scored 14. The RedHawks will be a load to handle when the young players are scoring.

Expect Marist to take some lumps throughout the season, that 10-1 record isn’t loaded with high-quality wins. But the RedHawks have a high ceiling and could be a factor in the playoffs after the freshmen and sophomores gain more experience.

Guard down

Simeon will be without guard Kaiden Space until sometime in January. The Stony Brook recruit broke his wrist in the Chicago Elite Classic against St. Rita.

The Wolverines haven’t missed a beat without Space, but losing a key guard will be a factor at the loaded Pontiac Holiday Tournament, where Simeon would have to win four tough games in three days to capture the championship.

Young faces Simeon on Friday at Credit Union One Arena. The event is named Sayonara, as there will be a ceremony to honor retiring Wolverines coach Robert Smith.

There is a strong lineup of games overall. Hyde Park will face Mount Carmel, Joliet West takes on defending Class 3A state champs Sacred Heart-Griffin and St Rita faces a good team from Indianapolis.

Unbeaten starts

A significant number of teams have a chance to head into holiday tournaments unbeaten. Simeon (8-0), Benet (10-0), Glenbrook North (10-0), Lyons (7-0), and Lemont (10-0) are all ranked and undefeated. Barrington (8-0), Manley (11-0), Seneca (9-0) and TF North (7-0) are also unbeaten.

There’s a chance Lyons and Lemont could still be undefeated and face off in the York title game on New Year’s eve. Simeon and Benet are on opposite sides of the bracket in Pontiac and could also meet in a title game featuring teams with perfect records.

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