LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The Bears have created a quarterback competition that isn't just Mitchell Trubisky against Nick Foles. It's Trubisky against himself.
During the course of Trubisky's three inconsistent NFL seasons, the Bears watched a youngster who couldn't properly use his many tools to be successful, a player willing to put in long hours of preparation only to see it not pay off and an individual aspiring to be great but struggling to come close.
By acquiring Foles in March, the Bears hoped Trubisky would respond. While Tuesday marked just the second full-contact practice at Halas Hall, teammates are seeing a different edge to Trubisky.
Bears veteran Cordarrelle Patterson, who's never shy about sharing his honest opinion, believes Trubisky is showing something new.
"I feel he’s been more of a leader," Patterson said of Trubisky. "Last year I didn’t feel like he was that guy, but this year he’s taking over.
“He’s taking over. He wants everybody to know that he’s that guy.”
Patterson joined the Bears in March 2019, fresh off a Super Bowl championship with the Patriots, who were then led by star quarterback Tom Brady.
For a veteran like the 29-year-old Patterson, leadership isn't about words. It's about actions. It's about knowing your quarterback can lead your team down the field with less than two minutes to go and produce a victory.
Trubisky's struggles last season left the Bears trying to defend their him instead of praising him. It's why players like Patterson are taking note of the Trubisky whom they're watching now.
“He actually looks like a whole new player this year," Patterson said. "I can see it in his eyes. He has that fire in him.”
Of course, Trubisky's mindset is only part of the equation to bouncing back. His struggles across three seasons -- and in 2019 in particular -- can be traced to mechanics more than mentality.
It's why Trubisky spent the offseason focusing on his footwork and throwing motion, hoping to improve himself in and out of the pocket. Trubisky worked with renowned quarterback specialist Jeff Christensen to refine his mechanics.
"Being average is not acceptable around here," Trubisky said.
Bears coach Matt Nagy hasn't set a finish line in the team's quarterback competition, though it will have to be decided within the next four weeks before Chicago opens its season at Detroit on Sept. 13.
After Trubisky took the first snaps with the Bears' top offense in practice Monday, it was Foles doing so Tuesday. The two will alternate each day, with their reps split evenly.
When Trubisky gets his chance, he hopes to show his teammates more of that fire.
“It’s a combination of everything," Trubisky said. "Just realizing this is the last year of my contract, being hurt last year and not playing up to my own expectations, going 8-8, having a quarterback competition, and just the desire to want to go out to continue to chase greatness. It’s a combination of all those things.
"I’m trying to bring that edge. You’re just playing each play like it’s your last."
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.