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While Matt Nagy said he was "optimistic with caution", Mitch Trubisky will be able to play a shoulder injury during Thanksgiving against the Detroit Lions, but it is possible that the Bears have recourse to Chase Daniel for the first time in 2018.
The Bears signed a $ 10 million contract with Daniel to take over Trubisky in March, believing that he could not only contribute to the development of Choice # 2 in 2017, but also supplement it as needed. And "need to be" could be as early as Thursday at Ford Field.
If the Bears need to look to the long-time NFL backup, what will they receive?
First point: a quarterback with a thorough knowledge and a firm understanding of Nagy's offense.
"That's why you have a guy like Chase," coach Matt Nagy said. "You feel very comfortable with him. Chase understands: He is the oldest man on our team, so he has experience. Chase and I have a relationship, a coach-player relationship that dates back three years to Kansas City. I know Chase upside down; he knows me thoroughly. "
The Bears believe that Daniel lacks experience at stake – he has only tried 78 passes in his career – he compensates with a thorough knowledge of Nagy's offense. He spent three years with the Kansas City Chiefs from 2013 to 2015, when Nagy was the quarterbacks coach, and followed the then Chiefs offensive coordinator, Doug Pederson, to Philadelphia in 2016 to support Carson Wentz and handle a version of the offensive Andy Reid. His other years in the league were spent with the New Orleans Saints behind Drew Brees.
"I know the offense as the back of my hand," Daniel said. "This is my fifth or sixth year in the league in this attack, so the comfort level is very good."
The Bears are waiting for Daniel to properly handle the offense he suffered, even though there are a few things left to fine-tune his skills to those of Trubisky. Perhaps this means less interference or deep uprisings, but faster crossing routes. But basically, it will be the same offense, whether Trubisky or Daniel.
"This offense is entirely based on our playmakers," Daniel said. It's based on the quarterback who gives the ball to the playmakers in the open space, on free ground and lets them play. That's what we try to do every week. We are trying to find matches that could be used week after week. . "
Offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich also took the lead.
"Of course, you will adapt things to one person or another, absolutely, but within the same structure," said Helfrich. "We will not change the offense if something happens, you can not, you can not do that, but there are certainly nuances for anyone there."
Daniel has had tremendous success during his four years in Missouri. He has totaled over 4,300 yards in each of his last two years in Colombia and was a finalist in the 2007 Heisman Trophy. But that was a decade ago; since then, he has spent most of his time on NFL pitch in pre-season games.
But there is a reason why Daniel managed to stay in the NFL for 10 years while he rarely played on Sunday. His football I.Q. and the quarterback's knowledge is widely respected and he and Nagy forged a strong relationship five years ago in Kansas City.
And if the Bears must ride Daniel against the Lions, they believe in his ability to lead a team in first place.
"He's extremely confident in the way he plays because he's so smart," Nagy said. "The game is not fast for him when he plays. The other thing with Chase that I have always appreciated is that he prepares every game as if he was the starter (so) if his time comes, he does not blink.
"… The trust factor that he has, he has been with a lot of good quarters, he has experience and you trust."
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