Possible NFL Mandate Could Drastically Alter Chicago Bears QB Battle

The Chicago Bears planned to hold a quarterback competition of some kind when the 2019 season ended. It was the right course of action. Mitch Trubisky had underperformed. His inconsistency couldn't be allowed to continue into 2020. So the team traded for Nick Foles. It's hoped the presence of the former Super Bowl MVP will push Trubisky to play better while offering quality insurance if he doesn't.

What the Bears never could've imagined is how real life thwarted those plans. COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc with the NFL schedule. Teams still haven't gotten together for anything in person. The timetable is all out of whack. Many are struggling to find solutions to this problem. It's especially critical for the Bears since they need every rep in practice possible to gather information on Trubisky and Foles.

Unfortunately, the problems could get worse according to Albert Breer of The MMQB. While nothing is concrete yet, there are talks that the NFL might end up sacrificing part of the preseason.

"The union has been, understandably, protective of the players’ vacation time. And the desires of individual players are all over the map (a rookie and 10-year vet are going to have different needs and priorities, of course). One more extreme option that’s been discussed, if the union holds firm on the report date, is the idea of canceling the first week of preseason games to allow for an acclimation period and enough actual football practice before players head into live action."

Chicago Bears need the preseason to get their answers

Usually the preseason is nothing more than extra game reps for most of the reserves on a roster. A way to help teams fine-tune things for the real games in September. However, it's different for the Bears. They need those games to get more critical snaps for Trubisky and Foles. Snaps that will help provide an answer to who their starter will be. Snaps that have gradually disappeared already thanks to the cancellation of minicamps and OTAs.

Head coach Matt Nagy is under no illusions. He understands one of the biggest keys for him in the coming months if finding creative ways to get those two as much work as possible. If a preseason game is indeed sacrificed, then he may have to play Trubisky and Foles deeper into the remaining three games in order to get them enough work. Otherwise he risks making a decision without enough data to be sure.