Bagent started the Bears' 21-17 preseason win over the Texans on Thursday, completing two of three passes for 16 yards. As his modest final line implies, Bagent, who's thought to have the inside track to the No. 2 job, made only a cameo appearance. The second-year pro played on the Bears' first possession and recorded his two completions to Roschon Johnson and Stephen Carlson. Brett Rypien, Bagent's competition to serve as the primary backup to first overall pick Caleb Williams, saw the bulk of playing time in the weather-shortened game and excelled in a three-touchdown performance, so Bagent will likely have to perform well in any more extensive action he may see the remainder of preseason to ensure he keeps his presumptive lead in the job battle.
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Status
ACTIVELatest Tyson Bagent news
Career History
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Bears4-6
vs.
Vikings8-2
ATT 18.6CMP 12.0PASS YDS 126.7TD 0.6LNG 22.1CMP% 64.3SACK 1.0SYL 5.9INT 0.4RUSH YDS 14.9CBSS fantasy points 10.6ESPN fantasy points 9.4Yahoo fantasy points 9.9Pregame Probabilities
Expected to run >100 YDS1%Passing Touchdowns 3+1% -
Full season projectionsATT 153.9CMP 100.0PASS YDS 1,054.0TD 6.0LNG 44.0CMP% 65.0SACK 10.0SYL 65.5INT 2.7
Bagent started the Bears' 21-17 preseason win over the Texans on Thursday, completing two of three passes for 16 yards. As his modest final line implies, Bagent, who's thought to have the inside track to the No. 2 job, made only a cameo appearance. The second-year pro played on the Bears' first possession and recorded his two completions to Roschon Johnson and Stephen Carlson. Brett Rypien, Bagent's competition to serve as the primary backup to first overall pick Caleb Williams, saw the bulk of playing time in the weather-shortened game and excelled in a three-touchdown performance, so Bagent will likely have to perform well in any more extensive action he may see the remainder of preseason to ensure he keeps his presumptive lead in the job battle.
Bagent is slated to start Thursday's Hall of Fame Game against the Texans, Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com reports. Coach Matt Eberflus announced Tuesday that the Bears won't play key starters in the team's exhibition opener, which means that 2024 first overall pick Caleb Williams won't see any snaps. As a result, Bagent will get the starting nod versus Houston, with fellow QBs Brett Rypien and Austin Reed also available to see action.
Following the selection of No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams, Bagent is viewed as the favorite to open the season as the Bears' primary backup quarterback, USA Today's Vincent Parise reports. With Justin Fields traded to the Steelers earlier in the offseason, it leaves Bagent and Brett Rypien behind Williams. There's a chance Chicago adds an experienced veteran to what is currently a pretty young quarterback room, but Bagent showed well enough as a rookie last year to enter 2024 with a chance to claim backup duties. Bagent went 2-2 in four games as a starter, completing 65.7 percent of his passes for 859 yards, three touchdowns and six interceptions and adding 109 rushing yards and two additional scores on 23 attempts.
As has been the case in each of his appearances this season, Bagent certainly had his moments, including as a runner. The undrafted rookie also showed his inexperience on multiple occasions, however, with his first interception leading to a game-tying touchdown for the Saints in the opening period. Bagent did partly make up for the turnovers with 18- and nine-yard scoring tosses to Cole Kmet. It remains to be seen whether Bagent will be called on for at least one more start in a Thursday night Week 10 home matchup against the Panthers or if Justin Fields (thumb) will be ready to return to action in that contest.
At the same time, Eberflus relayed that Justin Fields remains "week-to-week" but may be able to mix into drills this week, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Since taking over for Fields in the middle of Week 6 against the Vikings, Bagent has completed 56 of 80 passes for 477 yards, one touchdown and three interception while also rushing nine times for 27 yards and two more TDs across two-plus contests.
Per Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com, Eberflus noted that there is "no change" in the status of No. 1 quarterback Justin Fields, who sat out the Week 7 win over the Raiders with a dislocated thumb and is being classified as "doubtful" at the early stages of Week 8. Based on Eberflus' comments, Fields doesn't look as though he'll be available as even an emergency backup, leaving Nathan Peterman in the No. 2 role behind Bagent. The undrafted rookie out of Division II Shepherd managed the game effectively in the Bears' convincing 30-12 win over Las Vegas, completing 21 of 29 pass attempts for 162 yards and a touchdown while adding 24 yards on the ground and committing no turnovers. Since the Bears are likely to rely on a ground-heavy gameplan once again Week 8 while limiting Bagent's opportunities to the throw downfield, the 23-year-old profiles as a low-end fantasy option in leagues that start two quarterbacks or have a QB flex spot available.