Despite getting impressive outing from their respective rookie quarterbacks, the #Chicago Bears and the #Cleveland Browns were not about to alter their depth charts anytime. The Bears got a solid outing from No. 2 overall pick Mitchell Trubisky while Deshone Kizer was a revelation in his first outing for the Browns.
While the Bears lost to the #Denver Broncos, 24-17, Trubisky was impressive, completing 18 of 25 passes for 166 yards and a touchdown and rushed three times for 38 yards. Presumptive starter Mike Glennon went 2-for-8 for 20 yards and an interception.
Veteran Mark Sanchez, who is expected to serve as backup, completed one of four passes for four yards.
After the game, Bears coach John Fox stressed that the team’s quarterback depth chart will not change after just one impressive game from Trubisky. Fox said the Bears’ first unit, led by Glennon, faced the Broncos’ outstanding defense, which is considered of the best in the league. “I can understand how you guys might think, but we're not going to change a whole lot after one game,” Fox said.
Broncos’ quarterback situation muddled by Kyle Sloter
Like the Bears, the Broncos’ uncertain quarterback situation was also muddled by the emergence of a possible third competitor in rookie undrafted free agent Kyle Sloter, who could pull the rug under from Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch.
Sloter completed five of six passes for 94 yards and a touchdown. He led the Broncos to back-to-back touchdown drives to erase a seven-point deficit in the fourth period.
Sloter engineered an eight-play, 64-yard drive that he capped with a 47-yard scoring strike to Isaiah McKenzie to tie the count at 17-17. Then he led a four-play, 43-yard attack that De’Angelo Henderson ended with a 41-yard touchdown run for the final score.
Siemian, the probable starter, went 6-for-7 for 51 yards while Lynch completed six of nine passes for 42 yards.
Kizer impressive in Browns’ win
Kizer, the 52nd overall pick by the Browns in the 2017 Draft, completed 11 of 18 passes for 184 yards and the game-winning touchdown in Cleveland’s 20-14 triumph over the New Orleans Saints.
Last year’s starter Cody Kessler went 5-for-10 for 47 yards while Brock Osweiler completed just six of 14 throws for 42 yards for the Browns. Despite Kizer’s impressive outing, Browns head coach Hue Jackson said he still has more to learn. Jackson still has to name his starter in the Browns’ second preseason game against the New York on Aug. 21.
