CHICAGO (670 The Score) — When the Bears last took to Soldier Field more than eight months ago, they were outclassed by the eventual Super Bowl champion Chiefs.
The Bears returned to their home stadium Saturday for a controlled scrimmage, working for more than two hours in a game-like setting. With just two weeks remaining until Chicago opens the regular season in Detroit, it's worth wondering whether this team is that much better than the one we last saw at Soldier Field.
Improvement for the Bears starts at the quarterback position, where Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles continued their competition by splitting first-team reps in an important session Saturday. With game preparation for the Lions fast approaching — practice for Week 1 begins Sept. 7 — neither Trubisky nor Foles has separated themselves in the battle.
Trubisky was shaky in his work against the Bears' second-team defense, showing many of the same inconsistencies that ailed him last season. Facing the first-team defense, he threw two interceptions to cornerback Kyle Fuller (one of which coach Matt Nagy tossed out due to practice circumstance). Foles was the day's winner at quarterback, displaying greater poise and precision with his reps.
Even so, the quarterback competition to this point has seemed to be near a draw.
"You want to do what's best for the team," Nagy said. "We (said) from the very beginning that there's zero agenda involved in this."
Now, a question looms for Nagy and his coaching staff: What if there's no winner between Trubisky and Foles?
The Bears wanted to see Trubisky take off in the competition and prove his place as the starter. He hasn't done that yet.
Foles continues to draw the praise of Bears teammates for his command of the offense. Though he's a newcomer to the Bears, Foles has revealed comfort in Nagy's offense thanks to his experience playing for Doug Pederson and Andy Reid in a similar system.
If Trubisky is the same Trubisky, then Foles is the better option for the Bears.
"Each and every day, I'm getting more and more comfortable," Foles said.
During Trubisky's down season in 2019, Nagy and the Bears often reminded that they could do more to help him. The Bears felt their offense let down Trubisky. But they also wouldn't have brought in Foles if there was firm confidence behind Trubisky.
The Bears are also left with injury concerns two weeks shy of their regular-season opener. Top receiver Allen Robinson has been sidelined for a week due to an ankle issue. Defensive lineman Akiem Hicks isn't practicing due to a quad ailment. Running back David Montgomery is expected to miss several weeks to a groin injury, and his status for the opener is in jeopardy.
Robinson's absence tests the Bears' young receivers to step up. Hicks' void is even greater with nose tackle Eddie Goldman having opted out of playing this season. Nagy has stated Robinson and Hicks will be ready for the regular season, but the clock is ticking.
Veteran pass rusher Robert Quinn, the Bears' marquee signing this offseason, returned to practice as a full participant Saturday. Coming off a 2019 in which he produced 11.5 sacks, Quinn was brought to Chicago with the hope that he could maximize Khalil Mack's worth on the other edge of the defense.
In turn, the Bears hope Mack, Quinn and Hicks bolster the defense from front to back -- creating the opportunities for takeaways that weren't there last season.
"We like being able to see 52 and 94 on the edges going after the quarterback," Nagy said.
The Bears need plenty to go right in order to prove that 2019 was the outlier. There are questions to be answered beyond the quarterback position, but the fascination with this team starts with whether Trubisky or Foles is leading the offense in two weeks.
The Bears don't plan to reveal their starting quarterback before they take to Ford Field on Sept 13, Nagy said. The team has shut off practices to the media beyond Saturday, meaning the rest of this quarterback battle will take place behind closed doors at Halas Hall.
Whether it's Trubisky or Foles leading the Bears to open this season, Nagy is hoping the result is victories.
"You want whoever you name as a starter to get you to the best record you can possibly have," Nagy said. "And just win, win, win."
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
