NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Bears’ first training camp practice open to the public arrives on July 27 and we’ll be there! But with training camp rapidly approaching and the team’s August 8 debut at home against the Panthers around the corner, let’s take an early look at who’s on the team right now.
Previous: None.
Today: Quarterbacks
The Starter: Mitch Trubisky (66.6 completion pct., 3,223 yards, 24 TD, 12 INT, 95.4 rating, 73.0 Total QBR, 63.6 grade from Pro Football Focus in 14 starts)
The Backups: Chase Daniel, Tyler Bray
Potential Training Camp Star: There is no need to get cute here. All eyes will be on Mitch Trubisky throughout training camp. Every drop-back, short pass, deep throw, and scramble will be viewed from under the microscope. To be clear, Trubisky isn’t on the hot seat. But the last time we saw Trubisky, he was carving up the Eagles’ secondary with his back against the wall and putting his team in a position to win a playoff game. Hopes are high for Trubisky, as are expectations.
We Really Like: Mitch. Mitchell. Money Mitch. Mr. Biscuit. Tru. Pretty Boy Assassin. Favre. The Pro Bowl quarterback who wears No. 10. If you still don’t know who Mitch Trubisky is, he’ll be the guy wearing the orange jersey when everyone else is wearing white or blue. It will be impossible to miss him.
We Might Be Worried About: Had Trubisky been totally uncompetitive throughout the entirety of the four quarters he played in the postseason, I’d worry about there being too much pressure on him entering this summer. But because Trubisky played his best when the heat was on, those concerns aren’t nagging me. Instead, I wonder if the Bears are doing the right thing by not having a backup with more upside behind Trubisky. Chase Daniel is a perfectly cromulent backup quarterback, but I’m unsure how many games he can win if Trubisky suffers an injury that keeps him out for an extended period. Let’s hope we never have to find out.
2019 Forecast: An independent video study has established that Trubisky is a good quarterback, but good might not be enough for those who want more. Entering Year 3, statistical projections for Trubisky are pretty darn optimistic. Analysts believe he is “on the cusp of greatness” as he enters his second year in Matt Nagy’s offensive system. The Bears’ head coach sees Trubisky as being “obsessed” with reaching the next level, a superstar level. If Trubisky makes the same leap from Year 2 to Year 3 as he did from Year 1 to Year 2, there isn’t a set of preseason projections or predictions he won’t blow out of the water.
