Resilient Bears lose Mitch Trubisky, but beat Vikings 16-6 for NFC North lead

Mitch Trubisky wearing a sling on the sideline after leaving the Bears-Vikings game with a shoulder injury. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

One month into the Bears’ grand expedition for a Super Bowl bid, the viability of that quest now hinges on how long Mitch Trubisky is out and how well backup quarterback Chase Daniel can manage in his stead.

The Bears lost Trubisky to a shoulder injury six plays into the game Sunday, but Daniel filled in well enough to get them a 16-6 win over the Vikings and keep their ambitions rolling along. All is not lost — not yet, anyway — with a defense like this, and they’re still in the softest part of their schedule for another couple weeks.

Regardless of where things are headed at quarterback, this was an admirable victory by the Bears on a day when everything seemed to be falling apart. On the brink of implosion, they rallied to punch out the Vikings and pull into a tie with the Packers for the division lead at 3-1.

The Bears went in without Pro Bowl run-stopping defensive tackle Akiem Hicks and longtime right guard Kyle Long, then stunningly scratched linebacker Roquan Smith hours before kickoff for personal reasons. Smith watched the game in sweats on the sideline.

When it seemed like it couldn’t get any worse, Trubisky had the offense moving steadily before a scramble gone bad forced him out of the game. Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter chased him to his left and stripped him, and Trubisky hurt himself trying to break his fall.

He landed hard on the inside of his left, non-throwing shoulder and immediately went to the sideline. After a brief examination, he went to the locker room and came back with his left arm in a sling.

Daniel was a proficient substitute, and the Bears’ overpowering defense provided ample margin. They held the Vikings scoreless until the final minutes, and Daniel did his part by finishing that opening drive with a touchdown pass to Tarik Cohen and completing 22 of 30 passes for 195 yards with no turnovers.

If Daniel (or a partially healthy Trubisky) can get them by the Raiders in London, the Bears get a bye before resuming Oct. 20 against the Saints.

Chicago Bears quarterback Chase Daniel #4 looks to throw the ball during the first quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field.