NFC Notes: Bears, Giants, Lions

Bears

The Bears took out QB Mitchell Trubisky with about three and a half minutes left in Sunday night’s 17-7 loss to the Rams. While Trubisky struggled again, completing 24 of 43 passes for 190 yards, a touchdown and an interception, HC Matt Nagy said the team made the move because Trubisky had injured his hip earlier in the game and it was affecting him too much. 

“It was all based off he wasn’t feeling right. His hip was hurting him,” Nagy said via NFL Media’s Jeremy Bergman. “We knew a few series earlier that something wasn’t right. We watched him to keep an eye on him and see how it was. I had to go on the side and talk to him. … He needed to be honest with us and trying to play through that is what he was doing.”

“There’s nothing but pure honesty in all of this. …It had zero to do with his play. Zero,” Nagy added via Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune. “It was completely based off the injury.”

Trubisky said he suffered the injury in the second quarter but continued to play through it without telling the coaches. He was evaluated at halftime and stayed in the game, but eventually it became apparent that the injury was hampering his ability to throw too much and he was benched. 

“I’m not doing the team any favors if I’m not able to run around or throw the ball with accuracy because I’m throwing with all arm,” Trubisky said via NBC Sports’ J.J. Stankevitz. “You just gotta be smart with that factor but I’m going to fight as long as I can and try to be out there with my guys.”

• Once again the Bears are struggling at the kicker position, as K Eddy Pineiro missed both of his attempts Sunday night. However, Nagy said the team won’t look to make a change at kicker just yet: “Eddy knows he’s got to make those.” (Cam Ellis)

Giants

• According to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, Giants WR Sterling Shepard (concussion), C Jon Halapio (hamstring) and CB Janoris Jenkins (concussion) all returned to practice. 
• Giants HC Pat Shurmur was unsure of TE Evan Engram‘s status for this week after he missed practice Monday. He added Shepard is still in the concussion protocol. (Ralph Vacchiano)
• Engram, however, said playing Sunday is “definitely possible,” as he’s two weeks into the two to four-week timeline he was given for his foot injury. (Vacchiano)

Lions

• Per Tim Twentyman of the official team website, Lions HC Matt Patricia says QB Matthew Stafford is still “week-to-week” with his back injury. 
• Lions DE Trey Flowers and C Frank Ragnow are both in the concussion protocol. (Michael Rothstein)