(670 The Score) The Bears will “absolutely” play their starters in their preseason opener on Aug. 13, when they host the Chiefs at Soldier Field, coach Matt Eberflus said Wednesday.
While revealing his plan, Eberflus isn’t quite sure yet how much playing time he’ll give the starters. Quarterback Justin Fields will start.
“The number of plays, we’re still working on,” Eberflus said. “But we do want to get them a good amount.”
In 2018, then-Bears coach Matt Nagy greatly scaled back his starters’ playing time in the preseason, including benching them for the finale. Then in 2019, Nagy played then-starting quarterback Mitchell Trubisky just three snaps in preseason action. All were handoffs, as he didn't attempt a pass. Nagy did play starters in the preseason more in ensuing years when he saw fit.
Eberflus is in his first year as a head coach and wants his players to get experience in new schemes.
“It's a new football team, we're very young," Eberflus said. "We're playing them in the first game ... We want to see how they function with playing the football game."
The Bears have three preseason games this season. They also visit the Seahawks on Aug. 18 and host the Browns on Aug. 27.
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