For the longest time, the Chicago Bears have really seemed somewhat lazy in terms of their depth at quarterback. They never wanted to rock the boat and make their starters uncomfortable. So they settled for “smart” veterans with limited upside. Chase Daniel and Tyler Bray are the shining examples of this approach ever since Mitch Trubisky was drafted.
So it’s rather ironic it took an injury to Trubisky, who was the backup to Nick Foles, for the Bears to finally add somebody with a little more intrigue to the mix. With the Bears’ depth at QB in question beyond Bray, Ian Rapoport revealed the team came to terms with Kyle Sloter to join their practice squad.
This is the second time they’d tried him out since August.
So it’s clear the Bears were keeping tabs on him. Sloter is a fascinating story. He only started one season at Northern Colorado but was excellent, throwing 29 TDs to just 10 interceptions. That earned him a look as an undrafted free agent for the Denver Broncos in 2017. Then despite throwing for 413 yards, 3 TDs, and no interceptions in the preseason he was cut.
The Minnesota Vikings swiftly scooped him up and kept him on the team for the next two years. Then last season they moved on. Sloter eventually landed in Detroit late in 2019 but has remained jobless since this past March. After a few close calls, he finally gets a shot with a new team in Chicago.
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The #Bears are getting some QB insurance, as Kyle Sloter is signing to Chicago’s practice squad, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 9, 2020
This is because #MitchTrubisky is out thru Week 12 with his throwing shoulder injury as discussed at https://t.co/dFDT8os6QG. https://t.co/qhV20Oakli
— David J. Chao – ProFootballDoc (@ProFootballDoc) November 9, 2020
Chicago Bears won’t (but should) give Sloter a serious look
Being an undrafted QB means it’s difficult to get a legitimate shot at competing for a job. That’s just the nature of the beast. Still, it is surprising at least one team hasn’t given Sloter a chance. He fits the criteria teams look for. At 6’5, he has the desired size for the NFL. As a former receiver, he can move around well. His arm strength is decent and he seems to throw with anticipation and accuracy.
Perhaps circumstances just always stood in his way. In Denver, they were busy with their Paxton Lynch experiment. In Minnesota it was Sam Bradford’s show before Kirk Cousins arrived the next year. Lastly in Detroit? He wasn’t going to unseat Matthew Stafford. Truth be told the Chicago Bears represent what may be the most legitimate opportunity he’s had to date.
Their quarterback situation is a mess.
Trubisky is injured. Nick Foles is struggling. Nobody believes Bray has the makings of a starter and can’t move anyway. Depending on how the next few weeks go, is it crazy to think a desperate coaching staff gives the 26-year old Sloter a look? Given how awful the offense has been up to this point, there really isn’t any harm in considering it.
Expectations are Trubisky will be out until after the bye week at least. That gives him two weeks to make an impression on the coaching staff. That will be difficult to do with limited practice reps. Even so, he’s talented enough to make it happen.
