Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky suffered a significant left shoulder injury against Minnesota Vikings Sunday afternoon. While being sacked, he landed awkwardly on his left shoulder and missed the remainder of the game. Backup Chase Daniel came on and assisted in a 16-6 Bears victory. The injury is significant for the team but also restarts an old Bears tradition of loving the backup quarterback.
On Monday, Chicago sports radio shows and social media sites will be flooded with calls, text messages, and posts on why Daniel should be the starter no matter what. This has been seen time and time again from Bears fans who believe that the backup quarterback is always the answer for the offense. From Caleb Hanie to Josh McCown, and soon to be with Daniel, Bears fans can’t help themselves but to fawn over the backup quarterback.
The current Bears backup performed well coming off the bench playing almost the entire game against one of the league’s better defenses. Daniel was 22 of 30 for 195 yards and a touchdown pass to Tarik Cohen on his first drive of the game. His efficient play is a delightful sight for Bears fans who have waited to cast Trubisky off as the lone reason why the team can’t win a Super Bowl. These were the same people who couldn’t wait to cast former quarterback Jay Cutler off following the 2010 NFC North Championship loss.
In 2011, Many wanted Cutler gone and Hanie to be the starter due to his fourth-quarter performance in the championship game. Fans got their wish as Hanie would start four games following a season-ending injury to Cutler. The bears lost all four games as Hanie would throw three touchdown passes and nine interceptions.
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The Chicago sports landscape could be in store for another hot quarterback controversy debut similar to the one that was seen back in 2013 with Cutler and McCown. It was an injury that allowed the backup to play as Bears fans were split on who should be the starter once Cutler was healthy. McCown played in eight games throwing 13 touchdowns to just one interception. Although he performed well the Bears posted a 3-5 record in those eight games. Some even believed that it should have been McCown that should have been re-signed and named the starter for the 2014 season.
Daniel started two games last year as the Bears went 1-1 with a Thanksgiving Day win against the Detroit Lions and a loss a week later against the New York Giants. He performed well in the first game and struggled in the second game. Following his performance against the Lions, a small contingency of Bears fans wanted him to remain the starter because of his game management skills.
There is no word yet on the severity of Trubisky’s injury, but he was seen with his left arm in a sling during the second half of Sunday’s Bears game. With next week’s game being in London against the Oakland Raiders with a bye week to follow, there is a likely chance that Daniel starts. If he doesn’t turn the ball over and the Bears win, it will be very interesting two weeks of Chicago Bears discussion amongst fans and the media, especially once Trubisky is healthy.
