NFL training camp gets going in three weeks, and that means the NFL regular season is only two months away. I imagine most of us will be focusing on our San Francisco 49ers during training camp, but it will help to know a little bit about the rest of the league. SB Nation’s 32 NFL sites are putting together basic rundowns of what their team has been up to this offseason.
Each explainer includes free agent additions and departures, trades, draft picks expected to contribute as rookies, biggest offseason addition, biggest storyline, underrated storyline, and notable injuries. The idea is to give you a quick but thorough background on each team. We’ll use these to look at 49ers opponents, but if we have time, I want to try and use all 32 to give us a nice look around the league.
Today, we move on to the Chicago Bears, courtesy of our friends at Windy City Gridiron. The 49ers travel to Chicago in Week 13. This is the fourth straight season these two teams have faced off, and the third straight season they will meet in Chicago. Coincidentally enough, it is also the third straight Week 13 matchup between the two teams.
The big question in my mind, given the rebuilding nature of both teams, is whether or not Mitchell Trubisky will be starting by the time Week 13 arrives. The Bears traded up with the 49ers to select Trubisky No. 2 overall, so they clearly think he is a potential franchise quarterback. Do they sit him the entire first year, or get him some experience sooner rather than later?
The Bears signed Mike Glennon to a three-year contract with $18.5 million in fully guaranteed money. That includes a $3 million signing bonus and $13 million in 2017 money (salary, roster bonus). He’s going to be starting this season, but how long he lasts as the starter is a mystery.
Poll
Will Mitchell Trubisky be the Bears by Week 13?
Notable free agent additions: Prince Amukamara (CB), Quintin Demps (S), Marcus Cooper (CB), Mike Glennon (QB), Dion Sims (TE), Markus Wheaton (WR), Kendall Wright (WR), Victor Cruz (WR), Jaye Howard (DL)
Notable free agent departures: Alshon Jeffery (WR), Jay Cutler (QB)
Trades:
Draft picks expected to contribute as rookies: Adam Shaheen (TE), Tarik Cohen (RB), Eddie Jackson (FS/PR)
Biggest offseason addition: It’s all about the quarterback in the NFL, so veteran free agent Mike Glennon and rookie Mitchell Trubisky, not to mention backup Mark Sanchez, will give the Bears a brand new QB room.
Biggest storyline heading into training camp: The Bears moved up in the draft for quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, so the ‘when will he play’ narrative will be front and center all camp long.
Under-the-radar storyline heading into training camp: The Bears revamped their wide receivers and secondary, so watching how those two position groups will shape up will be interesting.
Notable injuries heading into training camp: Starting inside linebacker Danny Trevathan may have to start the season on the PUP list, but other than that, the Bears are relatively healthy heading into camp.