Mitchell Trubisky Finishes Week of Practice Still Questionable
Bears coach Matt Nagy won't commit to quarterback Mitchell Trubisky yet as starter for Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints at Soldier Field.
It will be the proverbial game-time decision.
The availability of Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky to start Sunday against the New Orleans Saints will be a game-time decision even after he practiced all week without limitations.
The Bears listed Trubisky Friday as questionable on the week's final injury report even after he went through a full week of practices without a problem from his left shoulder, which will be in a harness for the game.
Also questionable for the game are defensive end Bilal Nichols (hand) and guard Ted Larsen (knee). Wide receiver Taylor Gabriel will play after missing two games with a concussion.
Trubisky has been out since Sept. 29 when he suffered a shoulder injury on the sixth play of the Bears' 16-6 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.
"He's been doing good in practice," coach Matt Nagy said after Friday's practice. "I like where he's at.
"We said early in the week it's going to be like a day-by-day thing. So far he's stacked good days together."
Nagy was hedging because he said he didn't want to make a commitment and then have to announce just before the game they decided to start Chase Daniel instead.
"I said yesterday, I feel cautiously optimistic," Nagy said. "I still feel that way. Without saying he’s going to be the guy, I feel good that he could be the guy."
The real question facing the Bears is not something practice or simulation can help. Trubisky will be hit at some point if he plays, and they can't be certain if he can take a hit because it isn't something they can test.
"He goes out there and plays, he gets hit," Nagy said. "You can't hide that. But if he goes out and he's running the ball and there's a free hitter on him, (he) must be smart.
"Get down, don't take the extra hits. That's the part that we've gotta make sure he goes out there and plays, be careful."
Trubisky has always maintained he's a "reps guy," who needs practice repetitions to be better. He came back from three weeks away with a right shoulder injury to face the Rams last year and recorded his all-time worst passer rating for a single game of 33.0. The Bears still won 15-6 despite three Trubisky interceptions.
"That's a good defense that (the Rams) have," Nagy said. "There was probably a little bit of rust coming back."
Trubisky on Wednesday didn't think it was relevant to talk about this injury like last year's. He actually thought he might be able to go back in and play after this injury.
"It's different because it's not my throwing shoulder and that's why I thought I might be able to go back in," Nagy said. "I thought 'oh, it's just my left arm, maybe, I could just catch a snap and be able to do all the handoffs and stuff and be able to throw. But I really couldn't move it.
"So if what happened to this left shoulder would happen to my right we might be in a different situation but it feels pretty good right now."
Trubisky has started against the Saints in the past. His fourth career start was a 20-12 loss in New Orleans. Trubisky went 14 of 32 for 164 yards with an interception for a passer rating of 46.9.
His rating would have been higher with a touchdown pass, but one he threw to tight end Zach Miller was overturned on replay when Miller suffered a knee injury so severe it ended his career.
Trubisky is 69 of 106 for 588 yards and three touchdowns this season with two interceptions for a passer rating of 81.0. Daniel replaced him in the two missed games and was 44 for 60 with 426 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions, with a passer rating of 95.6.
The Bears offense has been in a state of perpetual stagnation much of this season and ranks 30th overall, but Trubisky said Wednesday he thinks this can change.
"You look at the results, but you can't dwell on those because we know what type of talent we have on offense," Trubisky said. "And it comes down to cold-blooded execution – all 11 guys on the same page, doing their job, blocking the guys, going through my reads, getting the ball to the playmakers and using our natural ability to make plays."
The Bears are coming off their bye weekend, and have lost their last five games coming off of byes.
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