Saints coach Sean Payton on alert for Bears QB Mitch Trubisky running

If anything, the Bears might be averse to turning quarterback Mitch Trubisky loose as a runner as he plays through pain in his non-throwing shoulder. But Saints coach Sean Payton isn’t falling for that.

Among an outpour of compliments for Trubisky, he highlighted his mobility as a major concern for the Saints’ defense.

“You see someone that’s a confident decision maker and someone that I think is really athletic with his feet,” Payton said. “He can move. He can beat you with extended plays, but he can also keep the ball and gain 12 yards.”

That’s an interesting point to raise because running hasn’t been part of Trubisky’s game this year. He has five carries for 21 yards after averaging 30.1 yards per game last season.

“We don’t teach him to look to run,” coach Matt Nagy said. “We don’t say, ‘Hey go run on this play,’ or, ‘If No. 1 or No. 2 is not there, go run.’ Let it happen naturally. For whatever reason, [he isn’t running] as much right now, but maybe down the road here depending on what defenses do or don’t do, we could see it more.”