A lot of people wanted to push the narrative that the Chicago Bears have given up on Mitch Trubisky. He’s had three years as the starter. Most of it could be called average at best. Time to move on. Except the team brass has remained steadfast in their message. Trubisky will have an opportunity to remain the starter in 2020. He’ll just have to earn it this time. The trade for Nick Foles was meant to add competition, but also an incentive. According to Cordarrelle Patterson, the results are already noticeable.

This is the receiver/running back’s second season with the Bears. So he’s had a full dose of what Trubisky is like on and off the field. That is why his comments following the second padded practice of training camp were so interesting. Patterson admitted that in 2019 the young quarterback didn’t have the feel of a true leader. Somebody who demanded respect.

That appears to have changed. Trubisky brought a much more pronounced alpha mentality to camp. He’s carrying himself like that job still belongs to him and he intends to fight for it. Matt Nagy and the coaches aren’t complaining. This is the sort of result they were hoping for when the trade for Foles was made.

Cordarrelle Patterson certainly didn’t lack quotes

It wasn’t just Trubisky that Patterson had words for either. When asked about Foles, he revealed how startled he was when he saw the veteran QB in person for the first time.

“First thing when I saw him, like, fuck, he’s big. I thought I was big, I was like, ‘He’s a big human.’”

Patterson is 6’4 but Foles is 6’6. One of the few people who can actually say they’re bigger than the receiver that aren’t a lineman. As for Trubisky, that edge he seemed to have gained showed up in his own press conference after practice.

He said his goal was to bring a greater sense of urgency to the offense this year. Something that was lacking too often in 2019. He is tired of being average. That isn’t acceptable anymore. It will be fun to see how things continue to play out.