Yahoo sources: Bears name Mitchell Trubisky starting QB over Nick Foles
The Chicago Bears have settled on Mitchell Trubisky as their starting quarterback over Nick Foles, sources told Yahoo Sports’ Terez Paylor.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported the news.
Chicago traded a fourth-round pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars to acquire Foles in the offseason after a disappointing 2019 campaign for Trubisky. The battle for the starting position was one of the only true quarterback competitions in NFL training camps this offseason. According to Schefter, head coach Matt Nagy is going with Trubisky because of his “progression, leadership and performance throughout camp.”
Nagy vowed last week that he wouldn’t announce a starter prior to the Sept. 13 season opener against the Detroit Lions. It appears he has made that decision well ahead of schedule.
Trubisky hasn’t lived up to draft slot
Trubisky is entering his fourth season after the Bears selected him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 draft. The Bears traded up to select Trubisky, a decision that has been highly scrutinized in light of Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson both being available at the time.
Trubisky made the Pro Bowl in 2018 after averaging 230.2 yards per game on a 66.6 percent completion rate while throwing for 24 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. The Bears finished 12-4 and won the NFC North.
He regressed last season, averaging 209.2 yards per game on a 63.2 completion rate while throwing for 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The Bears’ offense was stagnant, and they missed the playoffs with an 8-8 record.
One more chance for Trubisky
Chicago declined to pick up the fifth-year option on his rookie contract this offseason, leaving his future in Chicago in doubt. But it appears that the Bears want to give Trubisky one last shot after investing so much in making him their franchise quarterback.
Foles is a career journeyman whose status escalated after he led the Philadelphia Eagles in their 2018 postseason run to a Super Bowl title in place of an injured Carson Wentz.
Foles flopped after signing a four-year, $88 million contract to start for the Jaguars in 2019 and was replaced in his first season by sixth-round rookie Gardner Minshew. Jacksonville offloaded Foles in the offseason to Chicago, where he’ll now back up Trubisky.
For now, at least.
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