Bears Outdraw Cubs in TV Ratings, Trubisky’s Passing Grade, Earning Baller Status, and Other Bullets

It only took one game, but former Minnesota Vikings is a believer in Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Mitch Trubisky:

  • With the first-game jitters officially in the rear-view mirror, Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times writes the real challenges are just beginning for Trubisky. After an 11-day layoff to prepare for his first start, Trubisky and the Bears offense goes back to work on a short week for a road game against the Baltimore Ravens. Trubisky has five days to evaluate his mistakes, learn from Monday’s film, get through a week of practice reps, and tackle all of the responsibilities thrown at a starting quarterback. Welcome to the show, rookie.
  • Now that there’s some film on the rookie signal caller that isn’t from the preseason, it will be worth watching how teams adjust to Trubisky. From there, seeing how Trubisky reacts and responds will be the most notable thing that comes from Week 6.
  • Despite a lackluster showing in the box score, JJ Stankevitz of NBC Sports Chicago writes Trubisky passed his first test as Bears quarterback. Stankevitz gave Trubisky a “B-” grade even after a 128-yard performance in which he completed just 12 of 25 passes because he showed an ability and willingness to read through his progressions, play with a sense of intensity we hadn’t seen in the prior four weeks, and bring the kind of intangibles you want to see from a rookie quarterback.
  • The numbers won’t show it, but Trubisky has earned “baller” status from his teammates despite the team’s loss on Monday Night Football. Around The NFL’s Kevin Patra writes the Bears are happy with Trubisky. “That’s Mitch being a baller and trying to make a play. And for me I’d like to get back and break that up for him,” said tight end Zach Miller regarding Trubisky’s interception-turned-teachable moment. Kendall Wright, who was Trubisky’s top target Monday, added: “He carries himself as a leader. I definitely think he’ll bounce back. He’s the type of guy that if he could, he’d try to go do something extra right now.”
  • While I’m #NotAScout, Greg Gabriel is a long-time scout and former Bears scouting director and he saw Trubisky flash the kind of talents franchise quarterbacks possess. Gabriel lauded Trubisky’s poise, demeanor, feel for the pocket when dealing with a pass rush, and – save for that back-breaking pick – made more good decisions than bad. This was just the start for Trubisky, but there is a lot to like moving forward if he can continue to build.
  • This is wild:
  • Trubisky Time garnered one heck of a turnout from television viewers. Phil Rosenthal of the Chicago Tribune reports that, on average, nearly one quarter of Chicago’s TV market watched the rookie’s debut Monday Night Football – outdrawing the Chicago Cubs who beat the Washington Nationals in Game 3 of the NLDS earlier in the day. The Cubs-Nationals early start helped fans avoid choosing between playoff baseball and the start of the Trubisky era. Then again, some of some of those viewers might have tuned into see the latest Star Wars trailer, as Rosenthal notes the national number hit a peak of 8.3 between 8:45 p.m. and 9 p.m. Who knew scheduling a football game during Star Wars would be a hit? Someone should have thought of this earlier.
  • Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times has details of Mike Ditka’s response after his comments claiming there have been no occurrences of oppression in the last 100 years. Ditka’s attempt to clarify his original statement came with a “sorry if anyone was offended” apology. A spokesman from the NFL helped the league distance themselves from Ditka’s claim, while the Bears have yet to issue any comment regarding the matter.
  • 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

    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...

    The Cost of Being a Football Fan (And Other Bears Bullets)

    In yet another reminder that nothing in life is free, the folks at Awful Announcing put the total cost to access NFL games this season projects to be $855.86. With 272 games on the NFL schedule, that comes out to...

    Rome Odunze Missed Saturday’s Bears Rookie Minicamp Practice

    I was rounding up this morning's set of Bears Bullets when I saw this note from the Chicago Tribune's Dan Wiederer on rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze sitting out Saturday's practice with hamstring tightness and I knew I had to...

    A New Tight End, Day 2 Camp Pics and Vids, Edge Market Developing, and Other Bears Bullets

    It's Mother's Day today. And while my mother passed away in 2017, I try to use this day to remember and honor her memory. Do something nice for the moms in your life today. You only get one. Chicago Bears...

    Caleb to Rome, First Day Notes, Big LSU Bet Is Off, and Other Bears Bullets

    I'm off to Springfield to play the role of Uncle Lu this weekend, so we'll have an abridged version of Bears Bullets today. Caleb Williams survived his first practice as Chicago Bears QB1. And all was right with the football...

    Latest News

    Bruins Get Bad Brad Marchand Update Ahead Of Game 5

    Bad news for the Boston Bruins this morning. Trailing 3-1 in their second-round series with the Florida Panthers, it was revealed that captain Brad Marchand will again not be available for tonight's win-or-go-home matchup in South Florida. https://twitter.com/FlutoShinzawa/status/1790401949998706932 Brad Marchand...

    Cubs Roster Moves: Lovelady DFA’d, Miller Acquired, Slaughter Sent Out

    The Tyson Miller trade is now official, with the Chicago Cubs sending minor league utility man Jake Slaughter to the Seattle Mariners for Miller, who figures to be mostly a match-up righty/middle reliever in the bullpen. More on the trade...

    Oilers Reportedly Making A Big Change Prior To Game 4

    Heading into the Oilers and Canucks second-round series, Vancouver was thought to be the team with the bigger concern in between the pipes. Vezina Trophy finalist Thatcher Demko was ruled out for at least the first four games of the...

    Playing Rookies More, 2025 Draft Pick Concerns, Lonzo’s New Podcast, and Other Bulls Bullets

    With the 2024 NBA Draft Combine off to a hot start in their own backyard, I hope the Chicago Bulls have learned from their many past mistakes. More on the importance of these next few days ... https://www.bleachernation.com/bulls/2024/05/14/draft-combine-bulls-work-5/ For a...

    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...

    The Luckiest Dude at the Ballpark

    I have been to more Cubs and MLB games than I could realistically remember. And not ONCE — not even once — have I caught a ball. No homers, no foul balls, no outfielders chucking it to me. Nothing. And...

    Shotamania, Counsell Boot, Rotation, Wesneski, Happ, and Other Cubs Bullets

    I hope your Tuesday is treating you well. So far so good on my end ... Shota Imanaga dealt with more traffic last night than he has thus far in his debut MLB season, but hey, that's a ridiculous Braves...

    Cubs Injury Notes: Morel, Almonte, Alzolay, Smyly, Wicks

    We don't yet know if there's an "injury" here, but it's a pretty scary possibility, so I'm leading with it. If you didn't catch the moment in last night's game, Christopher Morel fouled a ball off his toe in the...

    A Reliever Trade! Chicago Cubs Acquiring Tyson Miller from the Mariners

    The Chicago Cubs are acquiring righty reliever Tyson Miller from the Seattle Mariners for minor league utility man Jake Slaughter, per Jeff Passan. The Cubs did it! An early-May bullpen trade! It can be done! ... ok, there are some...

    Las Vegas Aces vs. Phoenix Mercury: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    The Las Vegas Aces face the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at 10:00 PM ET in the season opener for both teams. The matchup airs on ESPN2 and ESPN+.Watch the WNBA all season long on Fubo!How to Watch...

    more bears news