Albuquerque Journal

Siemian Trubisky, solid in opener

Broncos rally with two late scores to foil Bears

- BY ANDREW SELIGMAN

CHICAGO — Mitch Trubisky threw for 166 yards and led three scoring drives after Mike Glennon struggled for Chicago, before the Denver Broncos scored two long touchdowns in the closing minutes to beat the Bears 24-17 in the preseason opener Thursday night.

Though the Bears have insisted Glennon is their starter, Trubisky just might have created a quarterbac­k controvers­y.

Denver’s Trevor Siemian did nothing to hurt his standing as the leader for the starting quarterbac­k job, while Paxton Lynch did little to close any ground.

Third-stringer Kyle Sloter threw a 47-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah McKenzie with about six minutes left in the game, and De’Angelo Henderson ran for a 41-yard score with just under two minutes remaining to put the Broncos on top 24-17.

But the biggest developmen­t in this game was Trubisky showing exactly why GM Ryan Pace traded up a spot with San Francisco to draft him with the No. 2 overall pick.

The North Carolina product completed 18 of 25 passes in his first pro appearance after making just 13 college starts.

Trubisky replaced veteran Mark Sanchez late in the second quarter and completed his first 10 passes while leading Chicago to touchdowns on his first two possession­s and a field goal on the next one. That gave the Bears a 17-10 lead.

Glennon had a rough time in his first appearance for Chicago. Signed to a threeyear contract after the Bears parted with Jay Cutler, he was 2-for-8 for 20 yards with a zero QB rating. Chris Harris Jr. intercepte­d an overthrown pass on the game’s third play from scrimmage and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown.

Things didn’t get much better for Chicago’s offense until Trubisky came in with 1:55 left in the half.

He completed four passes on a 50-yard drive, connecting with Victor Cruz from the 2 to cut it to 10-7 with 13 seconds left.

Trubisky then led Chicago on a 75-yard drive early in the third, going 5-for-5 for 50 yards before Benny Cunningham ran it in from the 1 to give Chicago a 14-10 lead.

Siemian was 6-for-7 passing for 51 yards.

Lynch came on early in the second quarter and was 6-for-9 for 42 yards.

 ?? CHARLES REX ARBOGAST/ASSOCIATED PRESS ?? Denver WR Isaiah McKenzie catches a TD pass in the second half in a win over Chicago on Thursday night.
CHARLES REX ARBOGAST/ASSOCIATED PRESS Denver WR Isaiah McKenzie catches a TD pass in the second half in a win over Chicago on Thursday night.

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