INDIANAPOLIS — Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy is a national champion — and a Bears fan. On Friday, the La Grange Park native was open about his desire to play on the lakefront, one way or the other.
“It’s one of the dreams of mine, whether I’m playing for the Bears or against them,” he said at the NFL Scouting Combine. “Soldier Field, one of the oldest stadiums in America. ... It’s something that would be truly a dream come true.”
He had a formal interview with the Bears this week.
“It was awesome watching tape with them and going over our plays a little bit,” the Nazareth Academy grad said. “[The Bears] got me up on the board to retain some information. I did pretty well.”
McCarthy is expected to be drafted in Round 1, likely — at least for now — as the fourth quarterback taken. The Bears draft first and have their eyes on USC’s Caleb Williams. North Carolina’s Drake Maye and LSU’s Jayden Daniels are all expected to be picked in the top five.
This and that
• LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels was asked about the Bears and said little, offering that he liked talking football with the teams with whom he has met.
“I just want to go to the best situation, whether that’s the first pick or 32nd pick,” the reigning Heisman Trophy winner said.
• McCarthy said that playing against former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh twice a year — say, on the Raiders — would be fun. Harbaugh left Michigan for the Chargers.
“It would be a little interesting, looking across the field and seeing them in the baby blue,” he said. “Yeah, there definitely would be some nice emotional hugs afterward.”
• Washington quarterback Michael Penix said he’s healthy enough to allay concerns about his history. He tore his ACL twice and hurt each shoulder in college.
”That’s a big reason why I came back for this last season — to have another fully healthy season and show that I’m ready to compete and can do it at the next level,” said Penix, who lost to McCarthy in the national title game. “At this point, I can’t control if there are still questions about the injury history.”
