Bears QB Suffers Devastating ‘Potentially Significant’ Injury

Bears QB Mitch Trubisky

Getty QB Mitchell Trubisky of the Chicago Bears will be back under center again.

The rough week for the Chicago Bears keeps getting rougher. The NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported Wednesday afternoon that Bears backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky suffered a potentially serious injury to his throwing shoulder during the team’s Week 8 loss to the New Orleans Saints. Trubisky only played one snap in the game, and was apparently injured on the play.

Trubisky came out early in the game while starter Nick Foles stayed on the sidelines. He ran a play from the Wildcat, taking the snap and running for three yards. “Turns out, he got hurt on that play,” Garafolo said. “He’s tackled by Alex Anzalone, and he gets up, flips the ball to the official, runs to the sideline. Looking back on it now, it looks to me like he’s got some pain on his face, but you wouldn’t have known just from watching it.”

Last season, Trubisky partially tore the labrum in his non-throwing shoulder, and he had surgery this offseason to repair it. But this particular injury, though yet undiagnosed, sounds as though it could be significant.

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How Serious is Trubisky’s Shoulder Injury?

“It’s unclear when he alerted the Bears to the fact that he injured his right throwing shoulder on that play,” Garafolo added. “I am told via sources that he is undergoing evaluations to see how significant the injury is, but they are concerned that there is potentially some significant structural issues in his throwing shoulder. He is not practicing today.”

Trubisky didn’t practice Wednesday, per the team’s official injury report. When he spoke to the media Wednesday, head coach Matt Nagy had this to say about Trubisky’s injury: “He’s rehabbing things … it’s unfortunate and I know he’s bummed out.” Nagy also noted that Trubisky hadn’t realized initially that he had been injured. “He just dinged it up on that one play,” Nagy added.

Garafolo also later reported that Trubisky be out at least until the end of November, perhaps longer, missing several weeks.

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Trubisky Has Had Recent Issues With Both Shoulders

Trubisky missed a game last season after he tore his labrum against the Vikings Week 4. The injury wasn’t significant, but it did seem to linger for the remainder of the season, and left many wondering if it had a negative impact on his performance while also making him more timid as a runner.

This latest injury sounds more serious in multiple ways. It’s to his throwing shoulder, which is always a concern with quarterbacks, and he will reportedly be out longer. It’s also the second time he has injured his throwing shoulder; He missed time in 2018 with a right shoulder injury, and this will be the third straight season he has missed time.

Should Trubisky go on injured reserve, the Bears will likely go after another quarterback to add to the practice squad — or even the roster. After releasing wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. earlier Wednesday, the Bears have three available spots to fill.

We’ll keep you updated on Trubisky’s condition as more information becomes available.

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