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Mitchell Trubisky takes some first-team reps; Mike Glennon still the starter

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubisky took some first-team reps with starter Mike Glennon on Wednesday, coach John Fox said.

“I think his performance has been good," Fox said. "To get a true evaluation and for us to look at him, you need to do this and I think most people in the league would agree and do this.”

Fox said the depth chart has not changed and that Glennon will start Chicago’s third exhibition game on Sunday in Tennessee and play the first half. Trubisky will start the second half and is expected to get at least one series with the starters.

"I was excited, but it shouldn’t make a difference how I approach things," Trubisky said. "You always prepare like you’re the starter and always support your teammates and whatever group you’re in you just continue to make them better and get yourself better. Yeah, it’s all about reps like I’ve been saying. The more I can get the better I should have a feel for things. Whatever group I’m with, just go out there, lead and show them what I can do."

Trubisky added: "You guys aren’t going to get any crazy answers out of me. This is it. Whatever group I go with, I’m just going to play hard and do my job. I love it here, I love my teammates, everyone’s been great. We’re just progressing each day. It’s been awesome and hopefully we can just continue moving in that direction and get closer and closer as a team.”

Glennon, who is guaranteed $16 million in 2017, left the door open for the Bears to stage an actual quarterback competition by throwing a pair of costly preseason interceptions. Glennon was guilty of a pick-6 in Chicago’s exhibition opener versus the Denver Broncos, and then threw an interception inside the 5-yard line in Arizona on Saturday night.

“I mean, déjà vu," said Glennon, who started in Tampa before the Bucs drafted Jameis Winston No. 1 overall in 2015. "Again, it’s situations that I’ve been through before that I handled myself well in the past, and I’ll continue to do that in his situation."

“[I learned in Tampa] to control what you can control. Outside of that, it just doesn’t do you any good to worry about other things. Just any of that. All I can do is prepare for Tennessee and treat it just like anything else.”

Glennon is 15-of-26 for 109 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in the preseason for a 48.4 passer rating.

Trubisky has fared much better -- albeit against lesser competition. The second overall pick has completed 24 of 33 pass attempts for 226 yards and two touchdowns for a 111.4 quarterback rating.

"I would say I’ve shown them what I can do, I think I’ve progressed faster than they expected I would, but I’ve still got a long ways to go and I know that," Trubisky said. "But I think I’ve shown that I’ve earned these reps and I just need to continue to get better each day.

Trubsiky’s play did level off somewhat last game. The rookie was lucky to avoid an interception on a ball he forced to Bears receiver Titus Davis.

Trubisky energized the team’s fan base when he went 18-for-25 for 166 yards and one touchdown in his preseason debut. He also rushed for 38 yards in that game, displaying a knack for making plays with his feet outside of the pocket.

“I think the more I can just go out there and play instead of going out there and thinking helps the better I perform," Trubisky said. "So I’ve just got to cut out thinking. It’s all about just going out there, knowing your job and reacting, and when you can do second nature things then your talent can start to take over instead of you double-thinking and not being decisive with the football. So those are the kind of things that help me.”