Bears ‘cautiously optimistic’ on QB
The Chicago Bears are cautiously optimistic quarterback Mitchell Trubisky will return this week from a left shoulder injury.
Trubisky said he feels “close” to 100% and hopes to start when the Bears host the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
“We've done a good job with this rehab plan of getting on the same page and just communicating, and hopefully once I show everyone that I'm good to go in practice this week, they'll let me roll and not look back,” Trubisky said Wednesday.
The 25-year-old said he would have to wear a shoulder harness for the team to let him play.
If he is unable to convince the trainers and coaches he is ready, veteran Chase Daniel will make his second straight start.
“I always say ‘cautiously optimistic,'” coach Matt Nagy said. “I feel good about it but we're preparing with both right now. The thing with Chase is that we know he's been in this role before. If it ends up being him, then it's the same mojo.”
Trubisky – the No. 2 pick in the 2017 draft – was hurt scrambling on the opening drive in the win over Minnesota on Sept. 29. The Vikings' Danielle Hunter dragged him down, and the quarterback's arm got pinned under his body.
Trubisky initially thought he might be able to return to the game, despite the pain, because the injury was to his nonthrowing shoulder. He had it popped back in. But the Bears weren't about to let him go back on the field. The question then became how much time he would miss.
Daniel finished that game and started the loss to Oakland in London the following week. The Bears (3-2) then had a bye.
Goodell on interference challenges: NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says the new video review rule for pass interference is working as expected, with only obvious mistakes by officials being corrected.
Through Week 6, the league has had 44 reviews related to pass interference, and the on-field ruling was reversed seven times.
“I think coaches understood replay was not going to correct every pass interference close call,” Goodell said at the close of the two-day owners' meetings in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. “It's not possible to make it perfect, and we're not re-officiating these plays. The thought process was to correct the obvious and clear error. I think it's settling out where we expected.”
The new rule approved as a one-year experiment allows pass interference calls or non-calls to be challenged by coaches and reviewed via replay. But complaints by coaches, players and fans about pass interference persist, with some arguing more calls should be reversed.
When the rule was adopted last spring, Goodell said, coaches understood that close calls wouldn't be changed. The reversal rate so far is 16 %.
Titans make QB switch: The Tennessee Titans (2-4) want to jump-start an offense that has just one touchdown over the past 10 quarters, so they're turning to quarterback Ryan Tannehill and benching Marcus Mariota.
At least for Sunday.
“We're trying to get a little spark, trying to evaluate what we're doing and how we're functioning as an offense,” coach Mike Vrabel said.
Tannehill, the eight-year veteran with 88 career starts for Miami, will make his first Tennessee start against the Chargers (2-4).