The Facts: GM Ryan Pace professed his belief in Trubisky on Thursday night, just five days after the team decided not to extend him a $24.8 million fifth-year option for 2021. “We’ve always had the approach that we’re honest and we’re truthful with our players and our staff, and we move on and we get to work,” Pace said. “Mitch gets it. Everyone’s competing. Everyone’s focused on better results. That’s the entire team. That starts with me and everybody. “We believe in Mitch — that doesn’t change."

Diehards Line:Except clearly it does. The Bears have said Trubisky and Nick Foles, for whom they traded a fourth-round pick and guaranteed $21 million, will have an open competition for the starting job. They’ll both play preseason games — a change from coach Matt Nagy’s first two seasons. The winner will have to prove himself against the best team — and the best defense — in the NFC. Presuming that preseason games will be played as scheduled, the Bears’ all-important third contest will be at home against the NFC champion 49ers. Trubisky will also have to face the defensive mind who knows him best — former Bears coordinator and second-year Broncos HC Vic Fangio — in the second week of the preseason. For the record, picking up Trubisky’s option would have put the Bears on the hook for $24.8 million in 2021. That’s obviously too high of a price to pay — despite, as Profootballtalk.com reminded their readers, the fact Pace once gave up four things to move up one spot to draft Trubisky instead of Patrick Mahomes or Deshaun Watson.