Giants likely to avoid Mitch Trubisky this week
The Chase is on again.
The Bears are expected to start backup quarterback Chase Daniel instead of injured Mitchell Trubisky for the second straight week on Sunday against the Giants.
With Trubisky sidelined with a bruised shoulder, the 32-year-old Daniel made his first NFL start since 2014 in Chicago’s 23-16 win over Detroit on Thanksgiving, completing 27-of-37 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns.
Trubisky returned to practice on a limited basis Wednesday, but NFL Network reported the team is planning to go with Daniel at MetLife Stadium.
“Chase Daniel executed in my opinion a very gritty [game], kind of what your backup quarterback should do, come in and take care of the ball,” Giants coach Pat Shurmur said before practice Thursday. “At times it looked like they were just trying to march the ball, and I thought he did a good job.
“We have to get ready for their offense, but we have seen a sample size of the plays they like with Chase in there.”
Landon Collins on the Giants’ defensive failure to preserve a 19-3 lead last week against Philadelphia: “The offense has done their job. They’re putting points on the board, and that’s all we ask them to do. Honestly, when they put points on the board, we’ve gotta be on the other end saying that we’re not gonna let them score or keep it from being a close game or putting our offense back in a predicament where we need them to score. It goes hand in hand.”
Saquon Barkley hasn’t fumbled since his sophomore season at Penn State, joining Kansas City’s Kareem Hunt as the only running backs in the NFL this season with at least 800 rushing yards and zero fumbles. The Bears’ defense is tied for first in the NFL with 16 forced fumbles.
“I think he understands the importance of ball security,” Shurmur said of Barkley. “I think he runs in a way that he protects the ball. It’s really the objective of whoever has the ball during the down has it at the end of the down. So we teach it and coach it, but it really comes back to the players embracing it and doing it.”
Tight end Evan Engram (hamstring) and linebacker Lorenzo Carter (hip) did not practice, but defensive end Kerry Wynn (concussion) participated on a limited basis and is “on the right track” for a return, Shurmur said.
Veteran running back Jonathan Stewart (foot) and wide receiver Cody Latimer (hamstring) have been practicing with the team, and Shurmur called them, “two players that, in the event we need a guy, can come up.”
Stewart, signed to a two-year $6.8 million contract last offseason, must be activated by Tuesday of next week or else he will remain on injured reserve for the rest of the season. The Giants have another two weeks to make that decision on Latimer.
