Only QB controversy in Chicago is how much better can Trubisky get

It is well past time for the silliness to stop.

In spite of the grumbling and rants of some disgruntled fans and a few targeted barbs hurled by media more interested in clickbait and debate than reasonably objective analysis and reporting, Mitch Trubisky is the Bears injured starter and he will be the starter on the field as soon as he is healthy enough to go again.

Chase Daniel is one of the NFL's better No. 2 signal callers, who will start for now, and then return to that role as soon as Trubisky's physically able to send him there.

The idea that the Bears' offense was better or looked better with Daniel on the field Sunday, than it did six days earlier with Trubisky running the show is simply not true.

Against Washington behind Trubisky, the offense managed 298, 208 passing, 90 rushing, was 8-13 on third down and was good for 24 points.

Against Minnesota behind Daniel, the offense totaled 269 yards, 197 yards passing, 72 yards rushing, was 5-16 on third down and scored 16 points.

Trubisky's line was 25-31, 231, 3 TD and 1 interception vs. Washington and Daniel's was 22-30, 195, 1 TD and zero interceptions vs. the Vikings.

The naysayers will argue that the Vikings defense is much better than Washington's, and it is, and that may be one of the reasons Trubisky was better a week ago last Monday than Daniel was Sunday, but it is also where you start introducing subjective measures into an objective analysis and the conversation just becomes noise.

Daniel is a backup because he doesn't have the size, speed, athleticism or arm talent to be a starter in the NFL, while Trubisky appears to have been imagined in a lab somewhere to be near the prototypical NFL franchise hurler.

Asked about Daniel's strongest attributes as a quarterback Bears head coach Matt Nagy answered, "The leadership and his anticipation. Leadership within the huddle before the play happens; directing people, telling them where to go, how to get there.

"And then the anticipatory throws of knowing, 'OK, this guy is going to be open because of this defense,' and being able to throw the ball on time."

Listen closely, there isn't a word about physical talent there because Daniel's ceiling is only marginally higher than Trubisky's floor.

What does Nagy think Trubisky can learn from watching Daniel until he heals?

"I remember last year when we went through this. In Detroit I remember him standing next to me after the first couple series and saying, 'Man, this is different.'

"For him, it's probably more so the in-game adjustments; the communication, seeing things from the sideline like we do as coaches, not from behind the center and what he sees.

"But he'll take it all in. He'll be right there and involved with us and communicating and being a coach as well."

There isn't a single physical or athletic trait, any mechanics, anything that Daniel does on the field that has to do with anything but his experience that he has to offer Trubisky.

It doesn't exist.

By far the most laughable part of this whole conversation is that the Bears might now be able to open up the offense because Daniel is on the field and it wont be shackled with Trubisky.

It would be stunning if the Bears game plan Sunday in London was any different from what we've seen the last two weeks because while Daniel, an 11-year veteran is far more studied in Nagy's offense than Trubisky in just his third season because, Daniel lacks the necessary physical abilities to do anything more than what he did Sunday.

Daniel looks more comfortable than Trubisky on an NFL field because he's been three times as long as Trubisky has.

But with all that, he still isn't better at it.

There is a real chance Trubisky will never become the franchise player Ryan Pace envisioned when he drafted him, but there are guarantees Daniel never will be because he is physically limited from being that guy.

By any objective measurement, and most subjective ones, the Bears can't be better off with Daniel ahead of Trubisky on the depth chart.

So why does anyone keep talking about it?

• Hub Arkush, the executive editor of Pro Football Weekly, can be reached at harkush@profootballweekly.com or on Twitter @Hub_Arkush.