Hub Arkush: With starters sitting, What can we expect from Bears vs. Chiefs?

The second to last preseason game wasn't always as important as it is today.

I can't remember exactly when the third exhibition became the climactic moment of training camp and the final one became a meaningless throwaway for everyone but the bottom five to seven players on the roster.

Back in the day, all exhibition games were created equal.

There is no clear rationale for why NFL teams approach the preseason schedule this way. A significant injury to any player is no more or less likely to happen in Game 1, 2, 3 or 4.

The question is particularly intriguing with the Bears, who have a young quarterback who needs all the reps he can get after a lukewarm preseason learning a new offense and youngsters expected to play key roles this season, including Jordan Howard, Tarik Cohen, Adam Shaheen, Anthony Miller, Cody Whitehair, possibly James Daniels, Jonathan Bullard, Roquan Smith, Leonard Floyd and Eddie Jackson, none of whom are finished products yet.

So why will virtually none of the Bears starters - including Trubisky - be suiting up against the Chiefs?

Apparently, Nagy's thinking - at least in part - is that having been selected to play a fifth exhibition this year with the Hall of Fame Game, the Bears already have had an extra week of work and at least five more practices than any team in the league other than the Ravens.

The problem with that thinking is none of the Bears' starters played in or even dressed for that extra game, many of the most important contributors, including Kyle Long, Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel, Akiem Hicks, Danny Trevathan, Aaron Lynch, Prince Amukamara, Shaheen and Smith, have missed a significant number of practices, and practices simply cannot replicate the value of playing in actual games.

While we now have to be uncertain as to what Nagy's plan will be for the Bills in the final preseason game, if the big boys aren't playing Saturday, why would he play them next Thursday?

I have preached for years that the preseason is too long and that the league would be far better off with only two exhibition games and 18 regular-season games.

But that premise assumes key players would get significant time in those two games.

If the starters don't play against the Bills, this Bears team will enter the regular season with a new offense reputed to possess one of the largest playbooks in the league, at least four new starters and one of the league's least experienced quarterbacks on offense, at least three new starters on defense and virtually no game experience for any of them.

I understand the Bears have had more practices that were longer and more physical practices than most other teams.

But not one of them has included tackling or players leaving their feet, and that is not how the game is played.

Clearly the Bears need to do something about the organization's injury problems in recent years, but not letting guys play can't be the answer.

And if a player is going to suffer a serious injury, what difference does it make if it comes in the third preseason game or second of the regular season?

Nagy has been open and blunt about his belief that playing guys too much in the preseason isn't worth the risk of injuries, and we have to assume that now that Floyd, Shaheen and DeAndre Houston-Carson will be limited at best to start the season has affected his thinking.

I have been a big Nagy fan until now. This is only one decision, and based on the body of work to date, I remain a fan.

However, the head coach is responsible for his team's performance - period.

If the Bears show up in Lambeau Field on Sept. 9 ill prepared to compete with the Packers, this decision will haunt Nagy and the organization for some time to come, and to what end?

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