Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields is set for another test in his rookie season, as he will face the San Francisco 49ers in Week 8.

This matchup may be one that Fields has an eye on showing out for, especially as for weeks ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft, there was much chatter on whether 49ers general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan would opt to pick him with their No. 3 overall pick. Shanahan was in attendance for one of Fields' Ohio State pro days, which, of course, fueled speculation that the 49ers would select him.

Instead, San Francisco opted to take North Dakota State star quarterback Trey Lance with the pick.

Overall, Shanahan was much a fan of Fields as a passer heading into the draft, which he touched on during a press conference ahead of the 49ers' road contest with the Bears.

“I can’t sit here and talk too much about another quarterback in that way, but I really liked Justin,” Shanahan said. “I thought that he was extremely tough, very talented, getting to know him through it, I thought he was a great guy.”

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Fields has opened up his account in the NFL on a sluggish note, which has included six interceptions thrown and a 61.8 passer rating through seven games played this season.

Even amid Fields' struggles, Shanahan still sees that his defensive unit will have a hefty task to contain him this Sunday.

“He’s getting thrown in there and playing and he’s having some up-and-down moments, which is expected,” Shanahan said. “But you have to always be ready for him. If he breaks away, he’s got the size, and he's got the speed to outrun almost anybody, he throws a great deep ball, has got a big arm, can make every throw and he’s getting better each week.”

Both the 49ers and Bears are in dire need of wins at this point in the campaign following their losing starts to the season. But in a storyline-driven league, the major takeaway from this game may center on whether Fields posts a standout performance against a team that could have taken him in the draft.