Concerns About Trubisky’s Return, GOAT on Tour, More Mahomes, and Other Bears Bullets

Balancing a fantasy basketball draft as I do pre-game prep work is going to be a challenge, but it will make it that much sweeter when I win the league.

Mitch Trubisky is expected to be back in the saddle for this afternoon’s Week 7 game against the Saints. But there are concerns:

Matt Nagy: "Since we’ve been through this before, we want to make sure that, because of the results of what happened last year in that (Rams) game, how do we prevent that really from happening again? That’s the mental side."

— Dan Wiederer (@danwiederer) October 18, 2019

In an odd twist of irony, I attended Trubisky’s return game last year against the Rams — and that was a tough watch if you happen to be a fan of offense, points, and scoring chances. Trubisky went 16 for 30 (53.3% copletion rate) for 110 yards, 1 TD, and 3 INT. That all added up to a 33.3 passer rating. It was as ugly as it looked. And while Trubisky was recovering from an injured throwing shoulder, I can see why concerns remain. Let’s keep an eye on how he plays early.

Mitch Trubisky in the final four games (three regular season, one playoff): 89/126 (70.6%), 947 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT, 102.8 passer rating. Can that guy show up moving forward? I’ll gladly take 70 percent completion rate, 7.5 yards per attempt, and a passer rating north of 100 going forward.

Are you going to the game today, too? Sweet! Some friendly reminders:

Coming to #NOvsCHI today? Helpful info for your @SoldierField experience: https://t.co/GSZDHNOTAk pic.twitter.com/PKyagQd9SU

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) October 20, 2019

https://twitter.com/ChicagoBears/status/1185714766867845121

Tarik Cohen isn’t loving the new Madden update:

Madden took my superstar ability away? Awww man I’m Ass .

— Tarik Cohen (@TarikCohen) October 19, 2019

This Saints defense is as tough as they come:

From @NFLMatchup — #Saints defense. Here’s how Dennis Allen’s unit can show pressure and disguise coverages vs. #Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky. #NFL pic.twitter.com/Qmw32aiba1

— Matt Bowen (@MattBowen41) October 20, 2019

.@saints v @ChicagoBears on this weeks #Playbook I dissect just how complete this #Saints defense has been through this 4game win streak. NO @drewbrees NO problem. What is Matt Nagy cooking up in his #Bears laboratory to counter? #WhoDat #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/DzLNKCazNp

— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) October 17, 2019

According to Pro Football Focus, the Saints defense has ranked in the top 10 in Expected Points Added allowed per play during their four-game winning streak. So while the first two weeks of the season were rough for the New Orleans, the bounce-back has been nothing short of impressive.

Good to see Bears GM Ryan Pace take advantage of a premier Friday Night Lights game happening in his back yard:

Ryan Pace attending the OSU-NU game could just be simple due diligence (when OSU is in your city, you should probably go watch them)

But some players at positions of need that should make it to Rd 2:

Jordan Fuller – S
Malik Harrison – ILB
Thayer Munford – OT
Damon Arnette – CB

— Brad_OTC (@BradOTC) October 19, 2019

Now, *THIS* is how you tour Chicago:

https://twitter.com/ChicagoBears/status/1185627450623057926?s=20

Books, juicers, and weighted blankets are among the Deals of the Day at Amazon.

An important Patrick Mahomes update:

Hard as it was to imagine Thursday night, Patrick Mahomes now could return to the Chiefs in less than three weeks, per sources.https://t.co/zH3k56zBQN

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 20, 2019

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Mahomes could be back within three weeks, which is a quick turnaround considering how awful that injury looked. Fellow ESPN Chris Mortensen tweets: “Mahomes feels ‘good’ and believes he is ‘week to week’ decision.” If that’s the case, then wow.

Mahomes’ injury is going to impact the NFC North race and the conference’s playoff picture as a whole. If he is back in three weeks, then he will return November 3 for a home game against the Vikings. But if he isn’t, then he will have missed games against the two teams atop the NFC North standings. After back-to-back NFC games in Weeks 8 & 9, Kansas City doesn’t play against an NFC opponent again until Week 16 when the Chiefs travel to Chicago to play the Bears. Mahomes should be back by then. Go figure.

A tip of the cap to Thomas Jones, one of the best (and most underrated) Bears to put on the uniform since the turn of the century:

When I was traded to the Jets from the Bears after Super Bowl 41 I never had a chance to say goodbye to my teammates, the fans or the city of Chicago. Thank you @readjack & @robertkschmitz for helping me do that with this highlight video. Bear Down! https://t.co/kr5hBUwGcI

— Thomas Q. Jones (@thomasqjones) October 18, 2019

At least the NFL can’t fine us for our tweets … right?

Not only was #Browns QB Baker Mayfield fined $12,500 for his comments on officiating, #Rams LB Clay Matthews and #Lions DB Tracy Walker were also fined $12,500 for the same offense, I'm told. A message from the NFL amidst mounting criticism in locker rooms and elsewhere.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 19, 2019

The message is loud and clear: You can air your grievances about poor officiating, just don’t expect the league to do anything about it (unless, of course, handing out fines for fair criticism counts as a solution to a problem).

This is why you always keep receipts:

Antonio Brown's grievance to recoup some his $30 million in guaranteed money took a hit in discovery when the @Raiders submitted multiple text messages from Brown to owner Mark Davis, asking for his release, per sources. The Raiders obliged Sept. 7.

— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) October 20, 2019

Reading the results of the annual NBA GM survey is a tradition unlike any other:

The Bulls Were Well Represented in the 2019-2020 GM Surveyhttps://t.co/02K83FO8SW

— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) October 19, 2019