REST MIGHT BE BEST
Circumstances behoove team to sit Trubisky one more week
With the Bears regrouping Tuesday after what coach Matt Nagy called a mini bye week, here are four questions to consider regarding whether Mitch Trubisky should return to action after one week off to rest his injured throwing shoulder:
How well is Trubisky really feeling?
The meaning of “day-to-day” varies with each coach. But when it comes to Nagy — who is considerably more candid and forthcoming than John Fox — there is a recent history to consider. He said so himself.
“With Mitchell, he’ll be day-today, and hopefully he’ll be progressing,” Nagy said recently. “It’ll be one of those deals you guys [the media] have been through with me.”
Those “deals” were the injuries that outside linebacker Khalil Mack (ankle) and receiver Allen Robinson (groin) recovered from.
When it comes to communication, Nagy said that Trubisky’s situation is similar to Mack’s. Mack, of course, wanted to play through his ankle issue.
Mack’s injury was problematic but not overly serious. If it was, the team wouldn’t have allowed him to run around and play catch before the Jets and Bills games. Still, the Bears considered it best to rest Mack and Robinson in those matchups — and they won without them.
It’s on Trubisky to be honest with everyone involved. But even if he does feel better this week, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Bears rest him against the Giants.
“Sometimes protecting the player from the player is really what you run into,” Nagy said.
Can Daniel play better?
Quarterback Chase Daniel wouldn’t be the first backup to follow a strong game with a poor one. It happens often. But the circumstances surrounding Daniel’s first start since 2014 leave room for improvement.
If Daniel were to start against the Giants, he wouldn’t be coming off a short week in which he had only two walkthrough practices to prepare for a Thanksgiving Day game against a division rival on the road.
Instead, Daniel would start after having more time to connect with the Bears’ starting receivers and tight ends during a typical practice week. Nagy also has more time to game-plan with Daniel’s input.
“I’ll go back to that’s why we brought him in, for these type of situations, where you feel comfortable knowing that if you get into a situation where he’s got to play, you’re able to keep playing the way you play,” Nagy said.
How beatable are the 3-8 Giants?
The Giants’ defense isn’t as porous as the Lions’ unit. Entering Monday, quarterbacks averaged a 90.4 passer rating against it, which ranked 11th in the league. The Lions have the second-worst mark at 115.1.
Still, the Giants don’t have a formidable defense. Their 14 sacks are the second-fewest in the NFL. Opponents also are converting 43.5 percent of their third downs, the fifth-worst mark.
Running back Jordan Howard also is overdue for a breakout game. The Giants are allowing 125.5 rushing yards per game. Only the Jets, Browns, Dolphins, Cardinals, Bengals and Raiders are giving up more.
Stopping Odell Beckham Jr. and rookie running back Saquon Barkley will be a test. But Mack and Co. should be able to harass quarterback Eli Manning, who has been sacked a league-high 38 times, into another bad game.
Can the Bears hold off the Vikings?
The Vikings’ 24-17 victory against the Packers on Sunday night essentially removed the Packers from the playoff conversation for the time being. At 4-6-1, the Packers have the same record as the Browns.
The Bears’ schedule takes a tougher turn after the Giants, especially with the Rams next at Soldier Field. But the Vikings, who are 6-4-1, also are in an unenviable part of their schedule. They have consecutive road games against the Patriots and Seahawks.
In other words, if the Bears discuss whether to rest Trubisky, this week sets up for another gamble worth taking. Will they do it?