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Ahead of Mitchell Trubisky vs. Vikings, a look at first-round QBs making midseason debuts

As Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky readies for the Vikings on Monday night, he does so as the next in a spotty line of first-round quarterbacks making midseason NFL debuts.

October 4, 2017 at 1:43PM
(The Minnesota Star Tribune)
(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

As Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky readies for the Vikings on Monday night, he does so as the next in a, at least recently, spotty line of first-round quarterbacks making midseason NFL debuts.

There's no rulebook for grooming a franchise quarterback. Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees sat for a season or more before becoming future Hall of Famers. Peyton Manning started right away and struggled through a 3-13 rookie season before his success.

Generally, Manning's route by starting Week 1 is the way teams go with premium picks. That's still the case from Matthew Stafford in 2009 to Andrew Luck, Carson Wentz, Jameis Winston along with unsuccessful swings like E.J. Manuel.

The Bears' situation is unique and deserves its own analysis. In short, their free-agent addition of Mike Glennon, whom some had still speculated could be a viable long-term option for a franchise, was the perfect set up (theoretically) for a franchise QB-in-waiting like Trubisky. Especially for Trubisky, the second-overall pick who started just 13 games at North Carolina.

That was before Glennon committed eight turnovers for the 1-3 Bears.

Up next: Trubisky vs. the Vikings on Monday night.

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Here's the list of recent first-round QB's debuts that came in the middle of their rookie seasons. You'll see a familiar name or two.

(The Minnesota Star Tribune)
about the writer

about the writer

Andrew Krammer

Reporter

Andrew Krammer covers the Vikings for the Minnesota Star Tribune, entering his sixth NFL season. From the Metrodome to U.S. Bank Stadium, he's reported on everything from Case Keenum's Minneapolis Miracle, the offensive line's kangaroo court to Adrian Peterson's suspension.

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