2nd half likely to be Mitch’s time in debut
Rookie quarterback Mitch Trubisky likely will have to settle for second- half snaps with third teamers in his NFL preseason debut Thursday against the Denver Broncos at Soldier Field.
That’s typical for a No. 3 quarterback, but Trubisky isn’t your typical No. 3 quarterback. He was the No. 2 overall pick in the draft in April and is the Bears’ quarterback of the future.
Mike Glennon will start and will be followed by Mark Sanchez, then Trubisky. Connor Shaw, who still is recovering after having a screw removed from his broken leg, won’t play. The starter typically plays the first quarter, the No. 2 guy the second quarter and the No. 3 guy the second half, generally with third- and fourth- team players.
‘‘ You know how that works,’’ coach John Fox said. ‘‘ Who he’s in with, exactly the time of game, I can’t say. But they’ll all three get playing time.’’
Among the Bears’ quarterbacks, Sanchez is the only one who played in a preseason opener last year. He threw a 32- yard touchdown pass and was intercepted by Jerrell Freeman as the Broncos’ starter against the Bears at Soldier Field.
Injury update
Guard Kyle Long ( ankle) and outside linebacker Lamarr Houston ( knee), both of whom had been limited to individual and seven- on- seven drills, participated in 11- on- 11 drills, albeit in a limited fashion.
‘‘ That was good to see,’’ Fox said.
Linebacker Danny Trevathan ( knee) avoided the physically unable- to- perform list but has not participated in anything more than individual drills. For what it’s worth, Fox held out hope Trevathan would be ready for the regular- season opener Sept. 10 against the Falcons.
‘‘ He’s making progress,’’ Fox said of Trevathan. ‘‘ We’re hoping to get to some seven- on- seven after [ the Broncos game], then eventually graduate to team. The main goal is getting to Sept. 10.’’
Other players who were limited or didn’t practice were receiver Markus Wheaton ( appendectomy), safety Harold Jones- Quartey ( ankle), running back Jeremy Langford ( ankle) and outside linebackers Willie Young ( groin) and Pernell McPhee ( knee/ PUP list).
Shaheen note of the day
Outside linebacker Sam Acho, who goes toe- to- toe with rookie tight end Adam Shaheen in blocking situations, said the 6- 6, 270- pound Shaheen will be fine as a blocker. But . . .
‘‘ The first thing that stood out about Adam Shaheen was his pass- catching ability,’’ Acho said. ‘‘ The dude’s 6- 7, 285— however much he weighs— and he’s making one- handed catches.’’ But the blocking? ‘‘ As an outside linebacker who’s 6- 3, 260, going against a guy [ 6- 6, 270], you’re not always excited about those matchups,’’ Acho said. ‘‘ I think he’ll be fine doing his pass- blocking [ and] his run- blocking responsibilities. He’ll be a good player.’’