John Fox sticking by Mike Glennon as Bears' starting QB after flop vs. Bucs
TAMPA – This was Mike Glennon’s chance to return and show up his former team.
Instead, Glennon, now the starting quarterback of the Chicago Bears, committed three turnovers – including a pick-six – in the first half and directed an ineffective offensive showing in a 29-7 loss Sunday afternoon against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
After the game, Bears head coach John Fox indicated that Glennon would remain the team’s starter going forward.
“No, I don’t think anybody, without even seeing the tape yet, that you can pin that on the quarterback,” Fox said when asked if there could be a quarterback change for next week’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. “Like I said earlier, everybody had their hand in that.”
Despite facing a 26-0 deficit at halftime, Fox refused to bench Glennon in favor of rookie Mitchell Trubisky, whom the team selected with the No. 2 overall pick in April’s draft after trading up one spot.
Fox added that there was “not really” any consideration at any point in the game for Trubisky to replace Glennon, who stressed that he’s not worried about his job.
“There’s been no communication of (being benched),” Glennon said after the game, “So there’s no reason to worry about it.”
In the game, Glennon completed 31 of 45 attempts for 301 yards. His lone touchdown came with just 1:43 left, and he tossed two interceptions and lost a fumble on a strip sack.
Most of Glennon’s yards, however, came in the fourth quarter with the game already decided. He threw for only 135 through the first 45 minutes..
Glennon’s last interception came in the second quarter on an out route that was thrown behind intended receiver Josh Bellamy. Buccaneers cornerback Robert McClain jumped the route and sprinted 47 yards to the end zone for the score.
The Buccaneers were well-versed in what to expect from Glennon, who spent the first four years of his career in Tampa Bay. Linebacker Kwon Alexander grabbed the quarterback's other interception and said he was prepared for the throw into triple coverage.
“It was just film study,” Alexander told Paste BN Sports. “I already knew what kind of routes they was running in the splits they was in, so I knew that was coming and I read it. When I seen him throw it, I just jumped it. When he looked my way, on my side, it was just like – go.”
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Glennon struggled throughout the preseason, while Trubisky built a buzz by displaying his impressive tools. Bears coach John Fox and general manager Ryan Pace maintained throughout the offseason that Glennon was the team’s starter and Trubisky would be the future.
The Bears signed Glennon to a three-year, $45 million contract this offseason that includes $18.5 million in guarantees. Chicago, however, can get out of the deal with team options for the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
Trubisky, who had to sit for two seasons at North Carolina behind Marquise Williams, eventually got his shot with the Tar Heels in his redshirt junior year. He made the most of the opportunity, setting single-season school records for passing yards (3,748), touchdowns (30) and total offense (4,056).
After the game, Trubisky stressed that he will be patient until the Bears decide it’s his turn to run the offense.
“Of course I’d love to be out there, but I’ll get my time,” Trubisky told Paste BN Sports. “I know it’s coming.”
Follow Lorenzo Reyes on Twitter @LorenzoGReyes.
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