CHICAGO — Mitchell Trubisky is no Patrick Mahomes.

The comparisons are inevitable, given that Trubisky was taken eight spots ahead of Mahomes as the No. 2 pick in the 2017 NFL draft. That Mahomes has emerged as perhaps the best quarterback in the NFL in the first two games has only ratcheted up the comparisons.

So far, however, it’s not even close.

Mahomes has thrown 10 touchdowns in his first two games and looks as if he’s been doing this for years. Trubisky, well, he still looks like the work in progress that he is. He threw for two touchdowns but also was picked off twice by the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night, and it’s Khalil Mack and the defense that should get the credit for the Chicago Bears’ 24-17 victory.

Trubisky made some nice plays, no question. He juked three defenders on his way to a 17-yard gain that helped set up Chicago’s first touchdown. His comfort and connection with Allen Robinson II is obvious, and his 17-yard toss to Tarik Cohen after spinning away from two defenders was a thing of beauty that showed why general manager Ryan Pace was willing to give up so much to get the untested quarterback.

But Trubisky is only 27 starts removed from Mentor (Ohio) High School, and his learning curve remains steep. He’s at his best running scripted plays but tends to find trouble when he has to adapt and fall back on his athleticism. His happy feet cause him to overthrow his receivers – he launched two moonballs in his first eight pass attempts – and when he underthrows, it’s a pick waiting to happen.

Trubisky might very well develop into the franchise quarterback the Bears have been searching for for the better part of three decades. But if it does, it’s not likely to happen this season.

Here’s what else we learned:

Jordan Howard is underrated: The Bears running back didn’t get nearly the love he deserved after rushing for more than 1,100 yards in each of his first two seasons. Largely because the Bears were so bad and he was about the only good thing they had going on offense.

But he has to be considered as one of the NFL’s elite running backs. Elite offensive weapons, really, given what he contributes in the passing game. Howard had 35 yards on 14 carries and three catches for 33 yards.

While he didn’t make it into the end zone, the Bears don’t get there without him.

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Ailing Seattle: Seattle is going nowhere until it gets healthy. (Even then it might be a stretch but …)

The Seahawks came into the game without five starters, including two of their linebackers. Russell Wilson was missing one of his favorite toys with Doug Baldwin still recovering from a knee injury, and right guard D.J. Fluker’s absence further depleted an already weak offensive line.

Seattle’s defense still managed to fluster Trubisky and disrupt Chicago’s offense, with Shaquill Griffin picking off Trubisky twice in a span of six plays. But Wilson spent much of the night running for his life. The scrambling prevented the Seahawks from ever getting into a rhythm.

Wilson was sacked six times and threw a pick-six in the fourth quarter.

Good rental: No way the Seattle Seahawks are apologizing for signing Mychal Kendricks now.

The linebacker, signed by Seattle on Friday despite facing a likely suspension and possible prison sentence for insider trading, finished with three tackles and a sack.

Seattle was widely criticized for signing Kendricks, who readily admitted his guilt and was cut by the Cleveland Browns. But the NFL has always put self-interest ahead of doing the right thing. (See Dallas Cowboys and Greg Hardy.) The Seahawks were desperate with two of their starting linebackers sidelined by injury, and Kendricks was available. They’re going to make that deal every time, as would most NFL teams.