Chicago could be without quarterback Mitchell Trubisky when the first-place Bears visit the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day.
The Bears reported Monday evening that Trubisky suffered a right shoulder injury in Sunday night's 25-20 victory over Minnesota, which gave Chicago a 1 1/2-game lead over the Vikings in the NFC North. Detroit (4-6) is last, one-half game behind Green Bay (4-5-1).
If Trubisky cannot go, Chase Daniel will get the start. Daniel, 32, is a career backup who began his career with New Orleans in 2010 and has completed 65.4 percent of his 78 passes with one touchdown and one interception.
Nagy is still holding out hope Trubisky could start, and it will ultimately be a game-time decision.
Trubisky suffered the injury when he was hit late by Minnesota's Harrison Smith on the left shoulder after giving himself up by sliding, and at the time had his right shoulder pressed against the ground under his body weight.
Daniel has more urgency than usual in a week when Chicago didn't really hold an official extensive practice. They had walkthroughs Monday and Tuesday.
Daniel hasn't had more than two throws in a season since he was with Kansas City in 2014. But he has extensive knowledge of the offensive system after being in it from 2013-15 while Nagy was quarterbacks coach with Kansas City.
Trubisky was 23 of 30 passing for a career-high 355 yards with three touchdown passes in a 34-22 victory over Detroit on Nov. 11, ending a three-game losing streak versus the Lions. The clubs have split 16 Thanksgiving meetings with Detroit starting its tradition of playing on Thanksgiving in 1934, when Chicago prevailed 19-16.
The Lions snapped a three-game losing streak with a 20-19 victory over Carolina on Sunday -- surviving a two-point conversion attempt with 1:07 remaining -- and remain in must-win mode.
Detroit must move forward, though, without rookie running back Kerryon Johnson (team-high 641 rushing yards, three touchdowns). The second-round pick out of Auburn sprained his left knee against the Panthers and is week-to-week.
Detroit will try to patch together a running game with LeGarrett Blount, who is averaging a career-low 2.3 yards per carry and is on pace for his worst rushing season since 2012. Theo Riddick and Zach Zenner are other options.
The Lions have shored up their run defense, which ranked last in the NFL in the first half of the season, allowing an average of 142.5 yards. In games against the Bears and Panthers in the last two weeks, they've given up a total of 110 yards on the ground.
