This offseason has been unconventional, to say the least, and it’s had its share of obstacles that have made it difficult for teams like the Chicago Bears to prepare for the 2020 season.
Not only did teams had to conduct their offseason programs entirely virtual, there will be even less chance for players to get reps in as the NFL and NFLPA have agreed to zero preseason games in 2020.
Obviously there are late-round draft picks and undrafted rookies that will miss out on valuable reps and a chance to make an NFL roster. But there are also players with starting jobs or valuable experience on the line.
Let’s take a look at six Bears players that will be hurt the most from no preseason games.
1. QB Mitchell Trubisky
This is a make-or-break year for fourth-year quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, who is coming off his worst season as a pro. Although, to be fair, he was far from the only issue on offense. But he also hasn’t lived up to his No. 2 overall billing, which is why general manager Ryan Pace traded for Nick Foles to challenge and possibly unseat Trubisky in the starting role.
While Trubisky certainly has an edge in the quarterback competition given the entirely virtual offseason, winning the starting job isn’t a free ride for the entire season. Those preseason reps could’ve been invaluable for Trubisky, who is coming off shoulder surgery on his left, non-throwing arm, as well as give him more opportunities to get better at reading defenses. The more reps, the better for Trubisky.
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