Mitch Trubisky is in line to start the game Sunday against the Saints — even if the Bears insisted on calling their quarterback questionable Friday.
“Mentally, physically — I feel like so far he’s passing the test, and I feel good about it,” coach Matt Nagy said.
So much so that Trubisky took every single starting snap in practice Thursday and Friday. He practiced in full Wednesday through Friday and participated in practice Monday.
That bodes extremely well for him to start against the Saints, even if Nagy danced around confirming it. It was an act of gamesmanship but also a hedge against the chance that Trubisky’s dislocated left shoulder has a setback before game time.
“He’s very close,” Nagy said. “I feel more comfortable right now than I did on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, yesterday. I feel he has stacked good days together. Now, for us as coaches, we want to go through the whole game plan, where we’re at, we’ll collaborate and say, ‘Hey, where do we think he was physically?’ And talk to the trainers, and then mentally. . . .
“Without saying he’s going to be the guy, I feel good that he could be the guy.”
He’ll be the guy.
Twenty-one days after Trubisky dislocated his left shoulder against the Vikings, he will wear a shoulder harness the rest of the season to keep his shoulder in its socket in case he gets hit.
The Bears have said they won’t put limitations on Trubisky, though it’s fair to wonder whether they’re just trying to make the Saints account for his running abilities during their game planning.
Trubisky missed two games last year with an injury to his right shoulder. He struggled in his first game back, with a 33.3 passer rating in a win against the Rams, before posting ratings of 120.4 and 113.5 in his next two games.
Chase Daniel, who started in place of Trubisky against the Raiders, figures to back him up. Third-string quarterback Tyler Bray has been back on the practice squad since last week.
Trubisky has been eager to return. He was blunt when asked earlier this week about the benefits of watching the team’s loss to the Raiders from the sideline.
“It helps — but not really that much,” Trubisky said, laughing. “It’s a lot better playing. It helps playing. So, I mean, you try to make a positive out of a negative . . . but I really think the best experience is obviously getting out there and getting the reps. Whether you make huge plays or mess up, I really think that’s how you get the best experience.
“But, I mean, stuff happens. Like I said, you can’t go, you get hurt and you just try to help your team and your teammates and your brothers as much as you possibly can. And that’s what I tried to do while I was out.”
The Bears also listed defensive lineman Bilal Nichols as questionable, though he figures to play. Nichols typically is listed as questionable on Fridays because of his knees, but he’ll play with a club on his broken hand. Guard Ted Larsen, who has a knee issue, also is questionable.
