CHICAGO _ Coach Matt Nagy has decided not to play most of the Bears starters, including quarterback Mitch Trubisky, in Saturday's preseason game against the Chiefs because he is content with their performance to this point in the preseason, a team spokesman said Friday night.
It's an unconventional decision for the penultimate preseason game, which most teams use as their starters' final tuneup for the regular season. But this has been an unusually long preseason and offseason for the Bears.
The Bears have practiced more than any NFL team in 2018. They had an extra three-day minicamp in April because the NFL permits it for teams with a new head coach. They also reported to training camp a week before every team except the Ravens because the teams played an extra preseason game, the Hall of Fame Game, on Aug. 2.
Nagy long had considered holding out the starters Saturday, but he didn't let on because he wanted to fairly gauge their performance and effort in practice this week, the team spokesman said. When Nagy was satisfied, he informed the team Friday.
Nagy is expected to address the decision with reporters after Saturday's game.
The Bears starters are unlikely to play in Thursday's preseason finale against the Bills, which means their next game action will be the season opener against the Packers on Sept. 9 at Lambeau Field.
Trubisky, then, finishes the preseason 11 of 18 passing for 94 yards, a touchdown, an interception and a passer rating of 70.1 on 34 plays.
The list of sidelined players will be worth noting Saturday, as some projected starters have not played in the preseason because of injury, including receiver Taylor Gabriel (foot) and cornerback Prince Amukamara (groin). The list of participants will indicate who still is fighting for a roster spot and whom the coaches want to evaluate further.
