Right now the Chicago Bears world is holding its breath. Mitch Trubisky left the win over Minnesota with an injured right shoulder. This as a result of a late hit from Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith. Head coach Matt Nagy says the team is optimistic he can still play on a short week in Detroit for Thanksgiving. However, if he can’t there is no lack of confidence in backup Chase Daniel.
This is why they signed him to a favorable two-year deal for $10 million. He knows the offense, he’s a veteran, and Nagy is familiar with exactly what he can (and can’t) do. Even so, who exactly is Daniel? Most people have the basic knowledge down. He has been a backup his entire career for teams like New Orleans, Philadelphia, and Kansas City.
He’s only started two games in his entire career, both against the same team and holds a 1-1 record. There really isn’t much to go on. So in order to get a better idea of who might fill in for Trubisky against the Lions, it might be best to go back to his origins.
Nagy said the Bears would be very cautious with Trubisky and likened the approach to what the team did with Khalil Mack and Allen Robinson.
— Dan Wiederer (@danwiederer) November 20, 2018
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Chase Daniel was a star at Missouri who delivered in big games
The man is certainly no stranger to coming off the bench to help his team win. It started in 2005 in Missouri. A freshman that year, Daniel was forced onto the field in a game against Iowa State after starter Brad Smith went down. The Tigers fell behind 24-14 in the 4th quarter. Daniel led them to 10-straight points including a TD pass with 20 seconds left to tie the game. They prevailed 27-24 in overtime.
Over the next three seasons as the starter, Daniel threw for 12,168 yards including 100 touchdowns and 39 interceptions. They went 22-6 during his final two seasons in 2007 and 2008, winning both the Cotton and Alamo Bowls. His college tenure ended as the all-time leading passer in school history. A list that includes former 1st round pick Blaine Gabbert.
Unfortunately it wasn’t enough to win over scouts. Daniel went undrafted in 2009. He signed with the New Orleans Saints and was part of their practice squad when they won the Super Bowl that year. He eventually became the backup to Drew Brees the next season and held that job until 2013 when he became a free agent. That’s when he signed in Kansas City and met Nagy for the first time.
Daniel delivered in his first-ever start as a pro
It didn’t take too long for him to see the field that year. In the last game of the season, with the starters getting rest for the playoffs, Daniel was assigned to start the finale in San Diego against the Chargers. Most would’ve expected him to be a bit in over his head. That wasn’t the case at all. He calmly directed the offense to 24 points, threw for 200 yards and a touchdown with 70% of his passes completed. He also ran for 59 yards.
If the Bears got a game like that from him in Detroit on Thanksgiving, they would be plenty happy about it. It might explain why Nagy is perfectly at ease with the idea of him playing. It doesn’t mean Trubisky is out for certain, but it’s becoming clearer why the team is willing to play it cautious. He may not be as talented, but Daniel is a smart player who comes prepared and can make a handful of plays to give his team a chance.
That’s all one can ask from a backup.
