So Did Mitch Trubisky Just Get Benched? Or Hurt? Or Both?

With an offense increasingly stymied, and a defense increasingly capable of resuming its standing as one of the top five in the league, it would have been understandable – purely from a competitiveness standpoint – if the Bears had made a quarterback switch weeks ago.

Third-year quarterback Mitch Trubisky seems to have taken significant steps back this year, to say nothing of any hoped-for improvement, and we’re already obsessing about what quarterback options will present themselves to the Bears for next year. It just feels like everyone paying attention already knows what’s up.

But, the actual benching of Trubisky has never come, I presume, because (1) Trubisky’s possible upside in individual games makes the value difference in going to Chase Daniel (a career back-up for a reason) pretty close to even, and (2) once you bench Trubisky, you concede that it’s definitely over for him, and remove that 1% chance he figures it out in the final games of the season. With weeks going by, however, that 1% chance gets even smaller, as do the number of games.

That is all to say, if Head Coach Matt Nagy had decided to bench Trubisky last night in favor of Daniel, in an attempt to come back and win the game, it’s not like that would have been utterly insane.

But going to a cold Daniel with just over three minutes left in the game would’ve at least been characterized as odd timing, even if the decision might’ve been eminently defensible.

And that’s why it is now just as plausible that the official story – Mitch hurt his hip, got treatment at halftime, and then it got worse in the second half to the point where he couldn’t effectively play through it anymore – is actually true. I mean, I buy that it did happen. A hip injury was the “reason” Trubisky was pulled. Got it. Buy it.

HOWEVER, the entire context that surrounds the injury, and the willingness for the team to not have him keep playing through it probably gives this situation at least a flavor of benching. So can’t it be both an injury and also, yeah, kinda-sorta a benching?

Well, good luck discerning the true answer from the post-game comments.

You’ll note that the broadcast didn’t mention the injury when Daniel replaced Trubisky, and they did not receive word of any injury until much later. You’ll also note that Nagy called for a Trubisky option on a 3rd-and-short in the third quarter, which was already an extremely curious call – irresponsible, even – if Nagy knew that Trubisky was managing the kind of hip injury that might take him out of the game.

According to Nagy after the game, it seems like he didn’t know about the hip until just a few series before Trubisky was pulled.

“We knew it a few series earlier that something wasn’t right,” Nagy said, per ESPN. “We watched him kind of just to keep an eye on him and see how it was, and I had to pull him aside and talk to him and just ask him and say exactly that we needed him to be honest with us. Trying to play through that is what he was doing, and at the same time, it was affecting a little of how he was able to throw. … I don’t want to put him at more risk, and I also don’t want to affect how the play is for the team.”

There was a conversation late on the sidelines that looked like a “I’m pulling you” situation, and everyone assumed that’s what was happening. But apparently it was the conversation about the state of Trubisky’s health, asking the QB to be honest about whether he could continue to play. Trubisky was honest with Nagy at that time.

“I’m not doing the team any favors if I’m not able to run around or throw the ball with accuracy because I’m throwing with all arm,” Trubisky said after the game, per NBC. “You just gotta be smart with that factor but I’m going to fight as long as I can and try to be out there with my guys.”

Alright, then. We’ll find out more this week, as Trubisky’s injury is evaluated and his status for this weekend comes into view. I suspect if he’s healthy, he’s gonna be right back out there, and we’ll all be left to speculate whether this was just a kinda-sorta benching in the hopes that Daniel could pull out a last-minute victory with Trubisky at something slightly less than 100%.

Not that any of this really matters for the long-term picture, because, injury or not, last night was a reminder that Trubisky just isn’t going to be the guy after this season.

(Photo by Jayne Kamin/Getty Images)

written by

Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

more bears news

Chase Young to Sign 1-year Deal with Saints as Another DE Goes Off the Board

If you were looking for the Chicago Bears to reunite Montez Sweat and Chase Young, I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Young, a free-agent pass rusher who would've made sense as a Bears offseason target, is reportedly...

The Bears Turned Down a Better Trade Offer to “Do Right” By Justin Fields

Even with the Justin Fields situation resolved by way of Saturday’s trade between the Bears and Steelers, I still found myself coming back to this Ryan Poles quote from Combine Week. The bold emphasis is mine (and you’ll see why...

More D-Line Help: Bears Add Byron Cowart to Defensive Mix

More defensive line help is on the way for the Chicago Bears. On Saturday, the Bears added to their mix of defensive linemen by signing defensive end Jake Martin. And because the job of building out a 90-player offseason roster...

Poles Plan, Sorting Through Fields Mess, What are the Steelers doing? And Other Bears Bullets

The first Monday of the post-Justin Fields era is here and Bears fans are still coming to grips with it. I get it. Lost in the weekend haze was the Bears burying a trade of their former starting quarterback in...

Chicago Bears 7-Round Mock Draft 3.0

In the wake of the Justin Fields trade and week one of free agency, things are starting to take shape, so let’s fire up the PFF Draft Simulator and try to sort out the rest of the 2024 roster with...

Ryan Pace, Darnell Mooney, and Kirk Cousins are Central Figures in NFL Tampering Investigation

In news that has nothing to do with the Chicago Bears trading Justin Fields, a pair of former Bears (and someone the Bears are quite familiar with) find themselves in the middle of an NFL tampering investigation. Ryan Pace, Darnell...

Justin Fields Trade Fallout (And Other Bears Bullets)

Usually, I reserve Sunday's Bears Bullets to be a dumping ground for things I didn't get to in a given week. But today is different (and for obvious reasons). Here is what you missed in case you spent all day...

Here’s What Ryan Poles Had to Say About the Justin Fields Trade

The Justin Fields trade is still oh, so very fresh. Here is what Chicago Bears General Manager Ryan Poles had to say about the trade in a statement issued by the team: We have engaged in multiple trade conversations in...

It’s Over: Justin Fields Traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers

So long, old friend. May the Force be with you. The Justin Fields trade is happening. So says NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, who is reporting it and sharing the news on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1769131145688461483 UPDATE (7:45 PM CT): It's officially...

Justin Fields Says Goodbye and Thank You

That Justin Fields trade sure is something. ICYMI: The Bears and Steelers have reportedly agreed on a deal to send Fields from Chicago to Pittsburgh in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round pick. And while it could become a fourth-rounder based...

Latest News

Nuggets vs. Timberwolves Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets – Tuesday, March 19, 2024

The Minnesota Timberwolves (47-21) are underdogs (+7) as they try to build on a three-game win streak when they host the Denver Nuggets (47-21) at 9:00 PM ET on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at Target Center. The game airs on...

Mavericks vs. Spurs Predictions, Best Bets and Odds – Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Southwest Division opponents square off when the Dallas Mavericks (39-29) visit the San Antonio Spurs (15-53) at AT&T Center, tipping off at 8:00 PM ET on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. The Mavericks are 8.5-point favorites in the game, the fourth...

Pelicans vs. Nets Predictions, Best Bets and Odds – Tuesday, March 19, 2024

The Brooklyn Nets (26-42) will try to break a three-game losing streak when they host the New Orleans Pelicans (41-26) on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at Barclays Center as 8.5-point underdogs. The matchup airs at 7:30 PM ET on YES....

Nuggets vs. Timberwolves Predictions, Best Bets and Odds – Tuesday, March 19, 2024

The Minnesota Timberwolves (47-21) are 7-point underdogs as they try to extend a three-game winning streak when they host the Denver Nuggets (47-21) on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at Target Center. The contest airs at 9:00 PM ET on NBA....

Canucks vs. Sabres Prediction: Odds, Picks, Best Bets – Tuesday, March 19, 2024

The Vancouver Canucks are fancied by oddsmakers to defeat the Buffalo Sabres when they match up on Tuesday at 10:00 PM ET, with the Canucks at -205 on the moneyline, and the visiting Sabres at +170.Canucks vs. Sabres Favorite, Moneyline,...

OH MY: ANTHONY EDWARDS JUST HAD THE BEST DUNK OF THE YEAR

Anthony Edwards has done it again. The emerging Minnesota Timberwolves superstar jammed the most impressive poster dunk of the season against the Utah Jazz on Monday night. Pushing the pace in transition during the third quarter, Edwards passed the ball...

De’Aaron Fox Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Grizzlies – Monday, March 18, 2024

To beat his 3-point prop, De'Aaron Fox must make three from beyond the arc on Monday, when his Sacramento Kings face the Memphis Grizzlies, tipping off at 10:00 PM ET.De'Aaron Fox's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the GrizzliesDe'Aaron Fox's over/under for...

Malik Monk Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Grizzlies – Monday, March 18, 2024

Will Malik Monk make three 3-pointers when the Sacramento Kings face the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday at 10:00 PM ET? If so, he'll beat his prop for the game.Malik Monk's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the GrizzliesMalik Monk's over/under for three-pointers...

Bogdan Bogdanovic Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Lakers – Monday, March 18, 2024

At 10:30 PM ET on Monday, it'll be the Atlanta Hawks against the Los Angeles Lakers, with Bogdan Bogdanovic needing three trifectas to beat his 3-pointer prop.Bogdan Bogdanovic's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the LakersBogdan Bogdanovic's over/under for three-pointers in this...

Anthony Davis Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Hawks – Monday, March 18, 2024

The Los Angeles Lakers face the Atlanta Hawks at 10:30 PM ET on Monday, and one of the 3-pointer over/unders available for this clash requires just one make from Anthony Davis.Anthony Davis' Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the HawksAnthony Davis' over/under...

more bears news