Neither QB impresses in Chicago Bears preseason opener
With Mitch Trubisky playing three snaps, neither backup quarterback stepped up for the Chicago Bears
Knowing Matt Nagy, the three snaps that Mitch Trubisky took on Thursday were more than we had anticipated. With that in mind, the expectation from this game was that third-string quarterback Tyler Bray would get a chance to prove himself.
Bray has been with Matt Nagy for a long time and knows the playbook as well as anyone. However, he has yet to beat out Chase Daniel for a backup spot, even though Daniel does not have the firmest grasp of it.
Daniel got a chance right after Trubisky and looked like the same player we have always seen. He is a player who also knows the playbook but is held back from his physical limitations. It is hard to suggest he can get over most of those.
With that in mind, Bray can beat him out. However, he is not going to. Bray looked the same on Thursday as he did the entire last preseason. Minimal progression.
These quarterbacks are hardly competing, but rather are soundboards who can help Trubisky diagnose the playbook.
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That is valuable to have in your room, but the question is at what cost.
Having a third-stringer who can dissect the playbook is great, even as a backup that is a quality trait. However, when the starter goes down, the Bears are going to be without any true option on the roster.
Yes, Chase Daniel won a game. He also lost a game to the Giants. A pick-six bailed him out of a potential loss to the Lions. There is no upside in either starter, and it should start to be questioned whether all of the resources at quarterback should be put into glorified quarterbacks coaches?
Should the Bears at least add another player who is athletic and has an arm and can push Bray? Maybe light a fire under Daniel? Should it be normal for the backup and third-stringer to be complacent like this despite proving nothing?
These are questions worth asking as the team looks to improve from 1-53.