Trubisky Gaining Alpha Status, Houston On Comeback Trail, Chicago Bars for Kaepernick, and Other Bullets

It’s a football Friday before the biggest preseason game of the year, and it is absolutely OK to get excited about it:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BYOO_R5n7T7/

  • Bears fans aren’t the only ones with high hopes for quarterback Mitch Trubisky. Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times spoke with several teammates who talked up the team’s top draft pick who is now taking snaps with the first team. Rookies Adam Shaheen and Tanner Gentry sang Trubisky’s praises, while wide receiver Victor Cruz, who has spent a lot of time working with Trubisky while with the third-team offense, sees something special. “There are certain throws and certain plays that he makes that you see like, ‘OK, that’s different. That’s not a guy that’s a free agent or anything like that.'”
  • (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)

  • Over at 247 Sports, Matt Eurich shares a nugget from Peter Schrager’s appearance on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” program. Schrager says he has been receiving messages suggesting Trubisky is becoming an alpha figure in the Bears’ locker room. Mike Glennon has done and said all the right things since being thrust into the starting quarterback role, but that apparently hasn’t stopped Trubisky from developing his own leadership skills. Here’s hoping we see some of that leadership in action when Trubisky takes the field on Sunday.
  • Despite two ACL surgeries that have cost him to miss 20 games over the last three seasons, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune writes outside linebacker Lamarr Houston is ready to hit the comeback trail running. Houston is one of the few players brought on by former GM Phil Emery who is still on the Bears’ current roster. And while he isn’t going to play up to the sack machine Bears fans had hoped they were getting when he signed as a free agent in 2014, Houston looks to round into form and contribute to what could be a pretty solid defense. Because of Pernell McPhee’s status, the Bears could use Houston channeling his 2015 form when he picked up eight sacks in a full 16-game season.
  • B.W. Webb hopes to make the Bears’ season-opening 53-man roster, and if he does, Chicago will be his fifth different home in five NFL seasons. The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain writes about Webb, who is the face of resiliency in NFL circles. Making the cut won’t be an easy task for the 27-year-old William & Mary University product, especially since he is part of a position group that currently has nine others competing for spots. But if he makes another spectacular interception, he could force a tough roster decision before cutdown day.
  • One receiver Webb and the Bears’ secondary probably won’t be seeing is Eric Decker, who will miss his second straight preseason game because of an ankle injury.
  • The Titans are also unsure of running back DeMarco Murray’s playing status. Murray hasn’t played a preseason down because of a hamstring injury suffered early in camp, which means 2015 Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry could continue to receive a bulk of the carries.
  • Would you like a laugh on a Friday afternoon? Of course you would, that’s why I’m sharing Deadspin’s takedown of the Detroit Lions in the site’s latest in a series explaining why your favorite team is actually bad.
  • The Minnesota Vikings have a pair of special teams competitions that are going down to the wire, with battles at kicker (Kai Forbath, Marshall Koehn) and punter (Ryan Quigley, Taylor Symmank) that likely won’t be decided until the end of the preseason.
  • Sure, the Vikings’ extension of an invitation to actress Olivia Munn (who used to date Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers) into the fandom is a bit savage, the team loses points for this nonsense:
  • For what it’s worth, I’ll gladly take the Bears’ nickelbacks over the band any day of the week.
  • Locally, a Highland Park park district has canceled its upcoming tackle football season because registration numbers took a tumble, which has been attributed to concerns regarding head injuries.
  • Two bars near Soldier Field are standing with Colin Kaepernick in a unique way. Madeline Kenney of the Chicago Sun-Times reports Velvet Lounge (67 East Cermak Road) and Bureau Bar (75 East 16th Street) are boycotting the NFL, adding the establishments won’t play NFL games until Kaepernick’s situation is properly addressed. The free agent quarterback remains unsigned despite outperforming several others who signed deals with new teams in the offseason.
  • Even though he is currently unemployed, Kaepernick still finds himself putting money ($800,000!) toward charitable causes:
  • written by

    Luis C. Medina, who you can find on Twitter at lcm1986, has been covering the Chicago Bears at Bleacher Nation since 2017. Since then, he has written about 3 head coaches, 5 play-callers, and 11 starting quarterbacks. Previously, Luis wrote about the Cubs and MLB at BN (2015-16) and worked in the Chicago Tribune sports department (2011-16). He also co-hosted a Cubs postgame show, Outside the Ivy, in 2019.

    more bears news

    WATCH: Caleb Williams is Already Making Connections with DJ Moore and Keenan Allen at Halas Hall

    Caleb Williams clips, however brief, will always grab my attention. Because while I can tell myself over and over again that I will not get googly eyes over spring practice videos, the reality is that I can't wait to see...

    Kiran Amegadjie Reportedly Signed His Rookie Deal (UPDATE: It’s Officially Official)

    Chicago Bears offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie is reportedly signing his rookie deal. NFL reporter Aaron Wilson has details on the contract, which includes: A $1.121 million signing bonus Annual workout bonus of $50,000 per year from 2025-27 Total deal worth...

    This Is What the Chicago Bears 2024 Strength of Schedule Looks Like

    Let's get this out of the way from the top. Looking at an NFL team's strength of schedule for the upcoming season based on the previous year's opponent winning percentage means almost nothing. So much change (roster moves, philosophy shifts,...

    Around the NFL: Schedule Release Teasers, Amazon’s Upcoming NFL Documentaries, More

    The NFL's schedule release is just over 24 hours away, but we're already getting some juicy teasers this week. Here's a roundup and some upcoming NFL-related productions coming to Amazon in today's NFL Notes. Chiefs Will Host the Ravens in...

    NFL Schedule Notes, When Should Bears Debut? Goff, Winfield, Parks, and Other Bears Bullets

    Coming home to a wonky wifi wasn't on my to-do list. But at least I'm home in one piece. Anyway, apologies if this set of BN Bears Bullets is brief because I can't spend all day on mobile hotspot. The...

    Bears Rookie Minicamp Takeaways: Caleb Williams and the Best of the Rest

    I've said it, and I'll continue to say it: this chapter of Chicago Bears football feels different. Perhaps it's because the last time we did this, we were in a pandemic, and when the Bears jumped up to No. 11...

    Jared Goff Becomes the Highest-Paid Lion Ever!

    The Detroit Lions have been busy in recent weeks securing their core after a run to the NFC title game last season. Jared Goff became the latest player to get a new deal in Detroit, and he became the highest-paid...

    Antoine Winfield Jr Signs Record-Breaking Extension

    The Buccaneers have made Antoine Winfield Jr the highest-paid defensive back in the history of the NFL. On Monday afternoon, Winfield Jr and Tampa Bay agreed to a four-year, $84.1 million deal. It also guarantees the Bucs' star $45 million....

    Bears Sign 6 Players After Rookie Minicamp Weekend Tryouts

    The Chicago Bears offseason roster churn continues. In addition to their five-player draft class headlined by Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze (plus nine more players who were signed as undrafted free agents), the Bears have signed six free agents who...

    They’re No. 1: Bears Wide Receivers Room Ranks as NFL’s Best

    One of my biggest frustrations with the Ryan Pace regime was how the former Chicago Bears general manager didn't invest in wide receiver upgrades the way you'd expect a team building around a young quarterback should. Meanwhile, his replacement, Ryan...

    Latest News

    Enhanced Box Score: Braves 7, Cubs 0 – May 14, 2024

    Not every game is a referendum on a team. Actually, come to think of it, a single game is NEVER a referendum on a team. Anyway, point is, a whole lot of teams are going to get stomped by these...

    Pablo Aliendo Goes Way Deep, Alexander Canario Goes Way Grand

    Pablo Aliendo gave the Tennessee Smokies an early lead on Tuesday night. Matching up with the Rocket City Trash Pandas, Aliendo sent a ball deep into left field during the 2nd inning. The homer gave the Smokies an early 1-0...

    Nico Hoerner Was Scratched Just Before Tonight’s Game Started

    You know that expression, when it rains, it pours? This is like that, except instead of raining, it is pouring deluxe turds. Just an absolute monsoon of shit. Another Cubs injury issue to another key Cubs player: https://twitter.com/maddie_m_lee/status/1790522697002455532 So, Nico...

    WATCH: Caleb Williams is Already Making Connections with DJ Moore and Keenan Allen at Halas Hall

    Caleb Williams clips, however brief, will always grab my attention. Because while I can tell myself over and over again that I will not get googly eyes over spring practice videos, the reality is that I can't wait to see...

    How to Watch Phillies Games: Full 2024 Schedule, Live Stream and More

    If you are a Philadelphia Phillies fan and looking to catch their games, you can watch most of them on TV with a cable subscription or via streaming with one of the many different apps. Let’s break down the cable...

    Connor Bedard Scored Again for Canada

    Oh hey! Blackhawks' star Connor Bedard scored his fifth goal of the World Championships for Canada on Tuesday afternoon. https://twitter.com/BN_Blackhawks/status/1790468565675483262 Bedard helped Canada sprint to a 6-1 lead... which evaporated as Austria scored five unanswered goals in the third period...

    How to Watch Yankees Games: Full 2024 Schedule, Live Stream and More

    The Bronx is booming! Yankee Stadium crackles with energy as the New York Yankees chase another World Series title. Whether you're a die-hard Yankees fan bleeding pinstripes or a baseball enthusiast captivated by the American League East race, their remaining...

    Adbert Alzolay Update: Imaging Results, Timeline, and a Sprinkle of (Unexpected) Optimism

    I had the weirdest reaction to what is objectively bad injury news on Adbert Alzolay just now. According to Meghan Montemurro, medical imaging confirmed that Adbert Alzolay has a right flexor strain. While I should have been upset to learn...

    Kiran Amegadjie Reportedly Signed His Rookie Deal (UPDATE: It’s Officially Official)

    Chicago Bears offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie is reportedly signing his rookie deal. NFL reporter Aaron Wilson has details on the contract, which includes: A $1.121 million signing bonus Annual workout bonus of $50,000 per year from 2025-27 Total deal worth...

    2024 PGA Championship Prize Purse and Payout Breakdown: How Much Money Does the Winner Make?

    The countdown has begun for the highly anticipated PGA Championship. As the second major of the 2024 calendar, this prestigious event will grace the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, from May 16-19. This year marks the 106th edition of the championship,...

    more bears news