CHICAGO – The Bears remain in wait-and-see mode when it comes to the health of quarterback Mitch Trubisky and his left shoulder.
“I haven't found out a whole lot other than it's his shoulder,” Matt Nagy said following the Bears’ 16-6 win over Minnesota. “So I'll know more here probably the next day or two. Hopefully a day. But we'll see how all that goes, but it's unfortunate.”
The injury occurred six plays into Sunday’s game, when Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter tripped up Trubisky from behind as he was scrambling out of the pocket. Trubisky fell awkwardly on that shoulder and would leave the game, immediately heading into the injury tent:
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A few moments later he followed Bears’ trainers into the locker room, returning to the sideline out of uniform and with his arm in a sling.
Nagy did mention that he doesn’t think it’s a season-ending injury, but couldn’t say whether Trubisky’s shoulder was broken, sprained, or dislocated. Four games into the QB’s highly-anticipated “prove it” season, the Bears aren’t even sure when he’ll be back on the field.
“That part is frustrating because he had a really good week of practice, and every week he's so excited to get back at it and really get this thing going,” he said. “...I want the kid to do really well. How many plays was it, six? I'm sure that part is frustrating.”
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“I saw him in there smiling around in the locker room in Club Dub, so that's always a good thing.”
The other surprising news of the day was linebacker Roquan Smith’s absence. Only a few hours before kickoff, Smith was downgraded to doubtful with what the Bears’ described as personal reasons. He would later be put on the inactive list, but was seen on the sideline during the game. Nagy declined to say whether it was a one-game issue or something more long term.
“I’m going to leave it as a completely personal matter,” he said. “I’m just going to leave it at that. It’s personal and I’m just leaving it at that.”
Backups Chase Daniel and Nick Kwiatkoski filled in admirably, however, and the next-man-up flavor of Sunday’s win was a big reason why Nagy called it one of the “top three or four” wins of his tenure in Chicago. The Bears were missing six starters on Sunday – three on offense (Trubisky, Kyle Long, Taylor Gabriel), and three on defense (Smith, Akiem Hicks, Bilal Nichols).
“I'm going to enjoy it tonight and appreciate it,” he said. “The list of names here: Nick Kwiatkoski, Chase Daniel, Nick Williams, Rashaad Coward, Sherrick McManis on special teams, Pat O'Donnell…”
“I couldn't even give a game ball today because it wasn't fair to the other backups that came in.”
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