Mitch Trubisky is finally getting his chance to start … but it comes with a catch.
Even as Trubisky rode the wave of a fantastic summer and preseason, overtaking Mike Glennon as the Bears’ opening week starter under center was never a likely scenario.
Glennon’s solid performance in Week 3 of the preseason seemed to cement as much.
And now, just in case you were holding out unlikely hope, head coach John Fox has essentially confirmed it:
#Bears coach John Fox said two QBs will play Thursday: Mitch Trubisky and Connor Shaw.
— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) August 29, 2017
Mike Glennon will start the Bears’ opener, and Mark Sanchez – if he is still on the roster by then – will nominally be the number two.
For Trubisky, Week 4 of the preseason will be an opportunity to get in more semi-competitive reps, and pick up experience. There was some thinking the Bears might hold Trubisky out of this one, too, but for a young man with so little starting experience and the possibility he might take over as the starter at some point this season, experience-gaining seems more important than risk-minimizing. (Famous last words …. )
His time will come, but – even in the long-term – a successful Glennon is not necessarily a bad thing for the Bears. Even in a world where Glennon is playing great (but the Bears do not appear to be a playoff contender), a trade down the line involving Glennon to a QB-needy team (even if not until next offseason) is not out of the question.
As for Shaw, the game will be an opportunity to put some more film down, and maybe play his way into a roster spot on the Bears or elsewhere.
The Bears wrap up their preseason this Thursday at 7pm CT, hosting the Browns.