Bears' Trubisky will be a game-time decision
Mitchell Trubisky of the Chicago Bears warms up prior to a game against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field on September 29, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images / Getty Images)
LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, who has been out since Sept. 29 with a left shoulder injury, will be a game-time decision Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, even after he practiced all week without limitations.
The Bears listed Trubisky as questionable on Friday's injury report. Also questionable are defensive end Bilal Nichols (hand) and guard Ted Larsen (knee).
Trubisky was injured early in the Bears' 16-6 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Chase Daniel relieved Trubisky in that game and started the next game for Chicago (3-2), a loss to the Oakland Raiders. The Bears are coming off a bye.
"He's been doing good in practice," coach Matt Nagy said of Trubisky. "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 expressed some uncertainty and didn't want to announce Trubisky as the starter ahead of Daniel. Trubisky took all the first-team snaps Friday at practice.
"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."
Trubisky will play with a harness on his left shoulder, but the Bears don't think the right-handed passer will be affected by it. The question is whether Trubisky can take a hit.
Nagy said he knows Trubisky will be hit at some point if he plays, and his advice is to be cautious.
"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."
The Bears also have reason to be concerned about how Trubisky will play after not seeing game action for three weeks. He had a similar three-week absence last year and returned to record his lowest single-game passer rating -- 33.0 -- against the Rams in a 15-6 victory.
"That's a good defense that they (Rams) have," Nagy said. "There was probably a little bit of rust coming back."
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If Trubisky plays, he will have the services of wide receiver Taylor Gabriel, who has recovered from a concussion and will be available after missing the last two games.