Previous Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky arrived at a one-year manage the Buffalo Bills on Thursday to serve as the reinforcement to starter Josh Allen.
Terms were not reported.
Bills GM Brandon Beane said this is a “reset” for Trubisky and that he doesn’t anticipate the No. 2 pick in 2017 to be a long-term option behind Allen.
“I don’t know what went on in Chicago, but he started 50 games,” Beane said of Trubisky. “… I think the label has been put on Mitchell from afar that maybe he doesn’t deserve it. This is a reset for him. We don’t expect him to be here long term.”
Trubisky, 26, started the 2020 season as the Bears’ beginning quarterback prior to losing the job to Nick Foles in Week 3, just to complete out the season as the starter, recovering the work in Week 12. He completed the season with 2,055 yards, 16 touchdowns and 8 interceptions, while finishing 67% of his passes.
Beane said the Bills will move toward Allen at some point after the NFL draft – in May or perhaps in the summer – about an expansion, affirming the team’s interest in completing a deal done this offseason.
Trubisky’s future in Chicago had been tenuous since the Bears traded for Foles last April and declined Trubisky’s fifth-year option somewhat more than a month later.
All things considered, Trubisky expressed a readiness to get back to Chicago for the 2021 season, telling journalists in the repercussions of the season-ending playoff misfortune to the New Orleans Saints that he had “unfinished business” with the team.
He had been under the microscope in Chicago since the Bears traded up to choose him. While Trubisky has had an up-and-down four NFL seasons, quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes (drafted 10th overall in 2017) and Deshaun Watson (12th overall) have formed into franchise quarterbacks.
Trubisky went 29-21 as a starter in Chicago, throwing for 10,609 yards with 64 touchdowns and 37 interceptions while finishing 64% of his passes. He additionally scrambled for 1,057 yards and eight touchdowns. He was a Pro Bowl selection in 2018 when he set career highs in passing yards (3,223) and touchdown passes (24).