KNOW YOUR BEARS: QUARTERBACKS
Leading into training camp, the Sun- Times takes a closer look at each position
MIKE GLENNON
Fifth year 6- 6, 225, North Carolina State Acquired: Signed as a free agent in 2017. Age: 27. NFL experience: 21 games ( 18 starts) in four seasons. Background: A third- round pick by the Buccaneers in 2013 ( 73rd overall), Glennon was 5- 13 in his 18 starts over two seasons in Tampa Bay before losing the job to No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston. He signed a three- year, $ 45 million contract, with $ 18.5 million guaranteed — $ 16 million of that in the 2017 season. Notable: Glennon has not started an NFL game since he was replaced by Josh McCown after losing to the Browns in Week 9 in 2014. But for what it’s worth, he has never missed a game because of injury. The skinny: He’s the ultimate X- factor on a team loaded with them — a genuine test of general manager Ryan Pace’s intuition about quarterbacks. Glennon faces a difficult — but not impossible — task of being immediately productive in an offense he is still learning, with players he has never played with before, including a mostly unproven receiving corps. And he’s not the people’s choice.
MARK SANCHEZ
Eighth year 6- 2, 225, USC Acquired: Signed as a free agent in 2017. Age: 30. NFL experience: 77 games ( 72 starts) in seven seasons. Background: The fifth overall pick by the Jets in the 2009 draft, Sanchez started the preseason opener for the Broncos against the Bears last year but quickly fell behind Trevor Siemian and rookie Paxton Lynch and was cut before the start of the season. He signed with the Cowboys and played in two games as a backup to Dak Prescott. Notable: Sanchez is 18- 23 with a 76.2 rating ( 57 touchdown passes, 53 interceptions) since quarterbacking the Jets to back- to- back AFC Championship Games in 2009 and ’ 10. The skinny: Sanchez missed the latter part of the offseason program, including the June minicamp, after injuring his left knee. As with any injured Bear, it remains to be seen how available and healthy he is in training camp. Sanchez is the only quarterback behind Glennon who has played in more than one NFL regular- season game. But that doesn’t assure him of being the backup to Glennon at the start of the season.
MITCH TRUBISKY
Rookie 6- 3, 220, North Carolina Acquired: First- round draft pick ( No. 2 overall in 2017). Age: 22. NFL experience: None. Background: A former Mr. Football in Ohio, Trubisky went 8- 5 in his first year as a starter at North Carolina in 2016 — throwing 30 touchdown passes, six interceptions and completing 67.5 percent of his passes ( 386- for- 572). He also rushed for 439 yards ( 3.7 yards per carry) and eight touchdowns last season. Notable: Trubisky was a particularly proficient backup as a sophomore at North Carolina — completing 85.0 percent of his passes in spot duty ( 40- for- 47), with six touchdown passes and no interceptions. When starter Marquise Williams was benched against Delaware in 2015, Trubisky stepped in cold and completed 17 of 20 passes for 312 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions in a 41- 14 victory. The skinny: Unless Glennon is a revelation, “When will Trubisky play?” will dominate the Bears’ season from the start. Despite calls from fans and media to give Trubisky a shot at the starting job, giving him a year to soak in the NFL seems like the prudent move. The only question is how open- minded the Bears will be to adjusting their plan should circumstances change.
CONNOR SHAW
Fourth year 6- 1, 210, South Carolina Acquired: Signed as a free agent in 2016. Age: 25. NFL experience: One game ( one start) in three seasons. Background: Signed by the Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2014, Shaw started one game as a rookie — a 55.2 rating ( no touchdown passes, one interception) in a 20- 10 loss to the Ravens. He missed the 2015 season with the Browns after breaking a thumb. The Bears signed him after the Browns cut him in 2016, but he missed the season after breaking his left leg in the preseason. Notable: Shaw had a 132.0 passer rating in the preseason last year — 11- for- 16 for 127 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions — against the Broncos, Patriots and Chiefs before the leg injury. The skinny: Re- signed by the Bears the same day he was cut ( after Sanchez injured his left knee in practice), Shaw is a long shot who will struggle for training- camp reps and preseason snaps if he’s even on the roster to start camp. The Bears liked him and were ready to give him a real shot before they redid their quarterback lineup with Glennon and Trubisky in the offseason after cutting Jay Cutler.