Strong-armed quarterback Mitchell Trubisky commanded the attention of dozens of NFL scouts as he shattered school records at North Carolina a season ago.
Tonight, Trubisky will have an opportunity to showcase his abilities in front of millions of viewers. The No. 2 overall pick will make his debut in prime time as the Chicago Bears (1-3) host the Minnesota Vikings (2-2) at Soldier Field.
The 23-year-old Ohio native supplants Mike Glennon as the starter only five weeks into his career.
"I feel like I'm ready," Trubisky said to reporters this week. "I'm excited. I'm just going to take it day by day and prepare as hard as I possibly can for every single look and situation we can get on Monday. I'm going to be dependent on my teammates a lot. My job is to get the ball to the playmakers and just be a distributor and manage the offense and do the best I can."
The Vikings offer a difficult challenge to any quarterback, let alone an untested rookie. Minnesota ranks No. 1 in the league in third-down defense (25.6 percent conversion rate) and is tied for eighth in scoring defense (19 points per game).
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Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen paces the team with five sacks in the first four games. Safety Andrew Sendejo also has emerged as a leader with 32 tackles and an interception.
Bears coach John Fox said the team's 11-day break between games allowed time to make the switch from Glennon to Trubisky. Look for Fox to try to ease Trubisky's workload by simplifying the playbook and relying heavily on running backs Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen.
"I thought he had an outstanding camp," Fox said when asked to evaluate Trubisky's growth. "He got to play four preseason games. Got to watch him in practice and preparation for the first four regular-season games. I thought he made great strides, even through camp, being new to our offense. I felt like he was ready for the next step."
As the Bears try to rejuvenate their offense, the Vikings will have to rebound from a tough loss. Minnesota will play its first game since losing rookie running back Dalvin Cook to a torn left anterior cruciate ligament that will cost him the remainder of the season. Cook rushed for 354 yards in three-plus contests.
In Cook's place, running back Latavius Murray will inherit the bulk of the workload. Murray is coming off ankle surgery during the offseason that still has him feeling less than 100 percent.
"To be honest, I think I'm still getting to that point," said Murray, 27, who spent the previous three seasons with the Oakland Raiders. "It's not going to quite feel the same for a while. I knew that dealing with my previous ankle procedure.
"For me, it's being well enough to be out there and being able to help the team be successful. ... I feel good enough to be out there, and I'm confident in myself that I can play at a high level."
The Vikings have been without quarterback Sam Bradford for the past three games because of a knee injury. Bradford is a game-time decision. If he remains out, Case Keenum will guide the offense again.
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One bright spot for Minnesota is the return of wide receiver Michael Floyd, who will be reinstated from a four-game suspension for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. Floyd joins a talented group of wideouts that includes Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen.
"I'll be ready," Floyd, 27, told the Minneapolis Star Tribune last week. "I'm in shape. I feel great. I'm ready to start."
Chicago's defense has offered reason for hope in an otherwise ugly start to the season. The Bears are No. 8 in the NFL in total defense with 306.3 yards allowed per game.
However, that defense will be shorthanded as linebacker Danny Trevathan serves a one-game suspension for his hit on Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams in Week 4. Trevathan initially was suspended two games for the helmet-to-helmet hit before the league cut the penalty.
VIKINGS (2-2) AT BEARS (1-3)
What: NFC North game
When: 7:30 p.m. today
Where: Soldier Field, Chicago
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TV: ESPN
Radio: KQDS-AM 1490/KQDS-FM 94.9
