Wondering about a player, a past game or another issue involving the Bears? Senior writer Larry Mayer answers a variety of questions from fans on ChicagoBears.com.

Did the Bears play any of their regular starters in Thursday night's Hall of Fame Game?

Roger T.

Oak Lawn, Illinois

Only three of the 22 players listed as starters on the Bears depth chart played in the Hall of Fame Game: Left guard Eric Kush, who started at center, fullback Michael Burton and defensive end Jonathan Bullard. The 19 starters who did not play against the Ravens were QB Mitchell Trubisky, RB Jordan Howard, WRs Allen Robinson II and Taylor Gabriel, TE Trey Burton, LT Charles Leno Jr., C Cody Whitehair, RG Kyle Long, RT Bobby Massie, DE Akiem Hicks, NT Eddie Goldman, OLBs Leonard Floyd and Sam Acho, ILBs Danny Trevathan and Nick Kwiatkoski. CBs Kyle Fuller and Prince Amukamara and Ss Eddie Jackson and Adrian Amos. Top reserves who also did not play included WRs Kevin White and Anthony Miller and RB Tarik Cohen.

Asked why he didn't play most of his starters in what was the first of five preseason games, Bears coach Matt Nagy said: "In my opinion, it doesn't make sense. It just doesn't. We still have a quarter of a season left to play before we play Week 1. So it's a risk/reward deal and it's just too much of a risk for such a little reward."

I don't like the new helmet rule and don't think that the Bears deserved a penalty on that hit in the end zone in the second half. What are your thoughts?

Bill P.

Hammond, Indiana

I'm in favor of any rule that promotes player safety, but I think it may be difficult for NFL officials at first because they probably could flag a player for hitting an opponent with his helmet on almost every play, especially in short-yardage and goal-line situations. As far as the 15-yard penalty you referenced that was assessed against Bears safety Nick Orr in the Hall of Fame Game, it was not called because he violated the new helmet rule but because he launched himself into a defenseless receiver. Here's what Bears coach Matt Nagy had to say about the penalty on Orr: "The one in the end zone is a really tough call for those officials. It's a bang-bang call. This wasn't the new rule. This was a launching deal. As long as they explain it to us, which is what they did, that's all we can ask for, and then we've just got to do our best to teach our guys what's right from wrong."

Did any of the Bears players take a knee or stay in the locker room during the national anthem before the Hall of Fame Game?

Drew S.

Charlottesville, Virginia

All the Bears players stood side-by-side and locked arms during the national anthem Thursday night in Canton. Here's what coach Matt Nagy had to say about the issue after the game: "I want to start off by giving tons of credit to our players and to our organization and staff because we did it together. The players decided to kind of talk through this thing. We then as a group talked about it and we decided this is what we're doing and really two things stand out for us: unity and togetherness for us. There's a lot more that goes into it. We understand that, we recognize it, and we'll continue to work towards that. But the guys were really excited to come up with one deal as a team, understand there's more out there. But we did it together, so that was really neat."