4 takeaways from GM Ryan Pace that have nothing to do with coach or QB play

The four most interesting things we heard from general manager Ryan Pace on Tuesday that had nothing to do with quarterback Mitch Trubisky’s performance or coach Matt Nagy’s play-calling:

Three surgeries — plus one more?

The Bears fear Trubisky needs surgery on his left (non-throwing) shoulder. He dislocated it and hurt his labrum when he was sacked in Week 4 against the Vikings. Trubisky returned for Week 6 and played the rest of the season with a harness.

“Just doing the exit physicals [Monday], just kind of going through it, there’s a potential he could,” Pace said.

If he does, he wouldn’t be out nearly as long as three other starters. Tight end Trey Burton, inside linebacker Roquan Smith and wide receiver Anthony Miller are expected to be gone until training camp because of surgeries.

Smith had surgery on the pectoral muscle he tore Week 14 against the Cowboys. The Bears expect Miller to have surgery on his left shoulder for the second time in two offseasons after he hurt it returning a kick Sunday.

Burton’s surgery, though, is the most intriguing. He had offseason groin surgery last year after it “locked up” on him the morning before the Bears’ playoff game. He “never felt quite right,” Pace said, and was put on injured reserve in November after totaling 84 receiving yards on the season.

His latest surgery, though, was on the labrum in his hip.

“We’re hoping that’s going to solve it,” said Pace, who believes the Bears did not rush Burton back too quickly during training camp last year. “Injuries, especially with him, are a fluid process. We’re just working together with him through all that. And so we’re optimistic this is what it is, and we’re going to see a benefit from it. Hopefully we solved it.”

Jeff Haynes/AP

Pass-rush questions

The Bears picked up 2016 first-round pick Leonard Floyd’s $13.2 million option for 2021 a year ago, though they could still walk away from the outside linebacker this offseason. Pace said that “we’re happy with Leonard” and are “glad he’s here” despite him getting only three sacks this season.

He pointed to his athleticism, skill in coverage and prowess against the run.

“Would we like more production from him? Yeah,” Pace said.

The same is true for star Khalil Mack, though Pace was not about to critique his play, calling him a “premier defensive player.” The highest-paid defensive player ever had 8½ sacks.

“He knows he can play better,” Pace said. “But, trust me, we’re very fortunate to have Khalil Mack on our team.”

Long gone?

It sounds like guard Kyle Long has played his last snap with the Bears, who put him on IR after he played a full game in Week 5. It comes as no surprise. Pace merely said Tuesday that the Bears will need to take a long look at the option in his contract.

“I feel bad for all the injuries he’s tried to overcome,” Pace said. “That was a decision we made at the time, and we’ll have to make another decision this offseason with his option.”

Pace said the Bears will examine their offensive-line personnel, though they’ve given three players contract extensions and have guard James Daniels, a 2018 second-round pick, on a rookie deal.

Eddy back

Walking onto the team plane Sunday, Pace told kicker Eddy Pineiro — who made his last 11 kicks after struggling against the Rams and missing a game-winner against the Chargers — that he “should be very proud” of his season.

Pace sounded as if Pineiro will be the kicker next season — which means no rookie minicamp derby.

“The goal the whole time was to hit on a young kicker that we can grow,” he said. “And we feel like we’ve done that with Eddy.”