Tag: Tyson Bagent

5 biggest storylines in the Bears’ preseason finale vs. Bills

The Bears will take on the Bills in their final game of the preseason. Here’s what we’ll be watching for.

After many long months of waiting, the preseason is nearly over, and the regular season is almost here.

Before the Chicago Bears bid farewell to the preseason, the coaching staff has decided to play all healthy starters to give the team a true dress rehearsal for what will be an eventful season. The Bears will face a tough opponent in the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, a team that was one of the NFL’s best last season.

Saturday’s game is bound to be the most exciting of the preseason, and that means there are several important aspects of the game to keep an eye out for. How will a disheveled offensive line do against a fierce Bills defensive front? Can Chicago’s improved defense limit an explosive Bills offense? Will rookie phenom Tyson Bagent have another great game and lock himself in as Justin Fields’ backup?

Let’s take a look at the five biggest storylines heading into the Bears’ final game of the preseason.

Bears OC Luke Getsy says experience won’t be determining factor in QB2 battle

Tyson Bagent has been impressive throughout training camp and preseason. But is it enough to win the Bears’ QB2 job?

Bears rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent has been one of the surprise standouts this summer, where his performance against the Colts has catapulted him into the discussion for the backup quarterback job.

But would the Bears be comfortable having an undrafted rookie as Justin Fields’ backup, especially considering Fields has yet to play an entire NFL season? Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy said that experience won’t be the determining factor in who wins the backup quarterback job.

“I don’t think there’s any way you can ignore someone’s past and not value what’s going on in the present as well, because experience is something that you can’t — there’s no substitute for that,” Getsy said. “All of that’s really important. But I think in the end, what’s most important, is that you’re playing at your best when your best is needed.”

The Bears have made it clear that the backup quarterback job is wide open. between Bagent, P.J. Walker and Nathan Peterman. Getsy explained that overall training camp and preseason performances will ultimately factor into the decision.

“I mean everybody has a shot,” Getsy said. “All three guys have done a really nice job through training camp. I think you guys have seen, like most of the guys in our training camp, there’s been good days and bad days for everybody and those three specifically. So we’re taking all that in. I know he had a great drive and that’s exciting for people, but that’s one drive. We’re going to make that part of the evaluation, but we’re going to take the whole training camp evaluation before we make a decision like that.”

If that’s the case, Bagent has made a strong case to be QB2. Last Saturday’s game against the Colts wasn’t a fluke where Walker struggled and Bagent shined. Ask those who attended training camp practices and they’ll tell you: This has been a trend all summer. Now, we’re seeing it manifest in live action.

Safe to say, Saturday’s game is a big one for Bagent, Walker and Peterman, as they look to make one lasting impression before a decision is made.

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Bears QB Tyson Bagent among highest-graded rookies this preseason

Bears rookie Tyson Bagent has been impressive this preseason.

Bears rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent has been a hot topic of conversation this summer with an impressive training camp and preseason.

Bagent is competing for the backup quarterback job with veterans P.J. Walker and Nathan Peterman, and Bagent has been making his case with strong outings in the preseason.

In fact, Bagent has been one of the highest-graded rookies on offense through the first two preseason games. He has a 91.5 grade, which ranks second behind only Raiders rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell. That includes a passing grade of 90.1, which ranks fourth among all quarterbacks.

Bagent’s defining moment this preseason was his lone full series against the Colts last Saturday, where he led a methodical 17-play, 92-yard scoring drive, where he completed 7-of-8 passes for 61 yards and a 2-yard rushing touchdown. He showcased poise and decisiveness operating the offense.

“He was calm. Super calm,” wide receiver Darnell Mooney said Tuesday. “He was electric. I mean just looking at him with the quick game just getting the ball out wherever he wanted to go. That’s where he was going. He wasn’t indecisive. He was very understanding of what he wanted to do. It was beautiful to watch. I had the headset on. I know what play was going on. Definitely beautiful to watch for sure, especially from him.”

It was an impressive performance that brought him name into the discussion for the QB2 job. Bagent will have one more game to prove he’s worthy of a roster spot — be it as the third QB or Justin Fields’ backup.

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Grading every Bears offensive position’s performance in the preseason

As the Bears prepare to wrap up their preseason, we graded every offensive position group through the first two games.

The last couple of weeks have been a wild ride for the Chicago Bears and their fans. The team got off to a blazing hot start in Week 1 of the preseason, with the offense generating multiple scoring drives and the defense imposing their will upon the Tennessee Titans.

The Bears failed to replicate their dominance against the Indianapolis Colts the following week, falling flat at several positions. Throw in some interesting choices for who did and didn’t play, odd injuries that no one saw coming and a Herculean effort from a backup rookie quarterback, it’s safe to say the preseason has been anything but dull.

With only one exhibition game left against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, it’s a good time to take a step back from the storylines and narratives that pervade our social media feeds and discuss each position.

We will be grading position groups with a letter grade, with “A” being the best and “F” being the worst. Bear in mind, we are ranking the performance of each position based on their overall play in the preseason; what that position did on the field over the last two preseason games is the only thing being considered.

For example, DJ Moore, Chase Claypool and Darnell Mooney are all talented receivers, but because one of those three players didn’t play, it will hurt the position’s overall grade.

Now that the rules are sorted, let’s analyze and grade every offensive position’s performance in the preseason.

Chicago Bears stock exchange: Who’s up, who’s down after preseason Week 2?

With just a week to go before roster cutdowns, here are the Bears players whose stock is rising and falling.

Chicago Bears training camp 2023 has come and gone, and there’s only one more week to go in the preseason. In other words, meaningful football isn’t far away. The Bears have one more week to determine who deserves a spot on the initial 53-man roster, but after two preseason games, many players have already made their case.

Some have surprised with impressive performances, while others are falling behind. It doesn’t matter if they’re a projected starter or a reserve; everyone is looking to put their best foot forward to begin the season on a positive note. Going into the final preseason game against the Buffalo Bills this Saturday, here are the players whose stock is rising and falling in the debut of the Chicago Bears stock exchange.

Tyson Bagent explains why he looked so comfortable operating Bears offense

Bears rookie QB Tyson Bagent looked poised and comfortable operating the offense vs. Colts. He explains why:

Bears rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent has shaken things up in the battle for the backup quarterback job behind Justin Fields.

Bagent shined in his second preseason action against the Indianapolis Colts, where he ignited a spark on offense for his lone full series in the second quarter. Bagent led an efficient 17-play, 92-yard scoring drive, completing 7-of-8 passes for 61 yards with a 98.4 passer rating, capping the drive with a 2-yard rushing touchdown.

That was in relief of P.J. Walker, who led an uninspired couple of series that both resulted in punts. Walker completed 1-of-4 passes for 6 yards and was sacked twice. There was an immediate difference in offensive execution when Bagent stepped in the game. The undrafted rookie looked poised, calm and comfortable operating the offense.

“I would say it’s probably two things,” Bagent said after the game. “Luckily enough, I was able to play a lot of football in college and really get exposed to all the situations football has to offer. I think that definitely serves a role. I’ve also been playing quarterback since I was 6, when my dad forced me to play. I’ve been playing for a long time.

“I have a pretty good understanding of what needs to happen and what doesn’t need to happen. And also, the mental load that it is to play quarterback in the NFL, it’s a lot. So if you kinda let that get to you, you can start to look pretty crazy out there. I like to keep it cool, calm, and collected and let all the guys in the trenches do all the crazy dirty work. And try to get everybody on the same page so we’re able to move the ball down the field.”

Heading into the final preseason game, all eyes will be on the battle for the QB2 job. At this point, it feels like Bagent has passed up Nathan Peterman on the depth chart and Walker has struggled throughout training camp and preseason.

But will another strong preseason outing from Bagent be enough to secure him a roster spot? Stay tuned.

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Bears score high PFF grades for strong preseason performance

The Bears have received some high marks from Pro Football Focus for their play in the preseason.

The Chicago Bears have played well during the preseason up to this point, where they’re sitting at 1-1.

The Bears began their series of exhibition games by battling the Titans at Soldier Field, and the team hit the ground running. The offense scored on incredible catch and run plays from wide receiver DJ Moore and running back Khalil Herbert, and the defense made sure the Titans offense could never get comfortable, producing eight sacks and four turnovers.

The following week, however, the Bears were much more inconsistent. The offense couldn’t get their wheels out the mud with quarterback P.J. Walker at the wheel for the opening quarter, and the defense was gouged in the running game. Their fortunes shifted soon after quarterback Tyson Bagent supplanted Walker in the second quarter, as the undrafted rookie played like a seasoned pro, scoring the Bears’ first touchdown on a quarterback keeper before the half ended.

The club’s solid performance in the preseason has earned them some high grades from Pro Football Focus. The Bears offense ranks fourth through the first two preseason games, with only the Las Vegas Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs and the loathsome Green Bay Packers ranked higher.

There is a Bears quarterback who PFF ranked as one of the best passers in the preseason so far. Of course, it’s got to be starter Justin Fields, right? Nope, it’s the player that’s the talk of Chicago, Bagent. Bagent is slotted in as the third best quarterback, taking his rightful place beside two-time MVP Patrick Mahomes.

For those keeping track of the Bears’ unexpected position battle for backup quarterback, Walker is also on this list, just on the opposite side. Walker is currently listed as the second worst quarterback of the preseason.

Several players have been close to being recognized as the best, but none have reached the top. That’s where Bears tackle Larry Borom comes to save the day, as the offensive lineman is ranked as the best tackle of the preseason. The guys in the trenches had received praise last week for their strong play, and now a Bear has the top spot.

With Week 1 fast approaching, the Bears strong play over the preseason is a solid indicator that the team is ready to play for keeps.

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Bear Necessities: Can Tyson Bagent unseat P.J. Walker for QB2?

Bears rookie Tyson Bagent is coming for the QB2 job. We recap that with Sunday’s headlines.

This is our online morning newsletter, Bear Necessities. Subscribe to get the latest Bears news delivered to your mailbox every day.

What’s the latest with the Chicago Bears?

Undrafted rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent was the top storyline to come out of the Bears’ preseason loss to the Colts. Bagent continued to build on his solid summer performance with an impressive outing against Indianapolis, where he ignited a spark on offense (and led a 17-play, 92-yard scoring drive) on his lone series. Now, Chicago has a QB2 controversy on their hands. But can Bagent pass up P.J. Walker, who’s notably struggled?

Here’s a look at the most recent and relevant Bears stories for the morning of Aug. 21.

Watch every snap Bears rookie QB Tyson Bagent played vs. Colts

Relive every snap from Bears rookie Tyson Bagent from Saturday’s loss to the Colts.

Bears rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent stole the show in Chicago’s 24-17 preseason loss to the Colts, where his impressive performance just started a backup quarterback controversy.

Bagent replaced P.J. Walker, who got the start in place of a resting Justin Fields, and there was an immediate difference in the offensive execution. While Walker’s first two series both ended in punts, Bagent’s lone full series was a 17-play, 92-yard scoring drive.

On that series, Bagent completed 7-of-8 passes for 61 yards with a 98.4 passer rating, capping the drive with a 2-yard rushing touchdown. He finished the game 9-of-10 for 76 yards with four yards rushing and a touchdown.

“I saw poise,” head coach Matt Eberflus said of Bagent after the game. “Delivery was there, the accuracy looked pretty good, timing was nice, decision making was good.”

Bagent has been impressing throughout training camp, and that’s translated to the field in preseason. Now, Bagent is pushing for a roster spot and possibly the backup quarterback job.

But before we look ahead, let’s relive every snap from Bagent during Saturday’s loss to the Colts:

With Eberflus declaring the battle for QB2 “open,” all eyes will be on Bagent in next Saturday’s preseason finale as he looks to secure a spot on the 53-man roster.

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Bears HC Matt Eberflus ‘open’ to having Tyson Bagent as QB2

Bears rookie Tyson Bagent is coming for that QB2 job.

Don’t look now, but the Chicago Bears have a quarterback controversy on their hands. A backup quarterback controversy, that is.

Undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent shined in his second preseason action against the Indianapolis Colts, where he ignited a spark on offense for his lone series in the second quarter. Bagent led an efficient 17-play, 92-yard scoring drive, completing 7-of-8 passes for 61 yards with a 98.4 passer rating, capping the drive with a 2-yard rushing touchdown.

That was in relief of P.J. Walker, who led an uninspired couple of series that both resulted in punts. Walker completed 1-of-4 passes for 6 yards and was sacked twice.

Head coach Matt Eberflus praised Bagent’s poise, accuracy, delivery, timing and decision making, and it certainly sounds like the Bears have a legitimate QB2 battle on their hands heading into the final preseason game.

“I think everything’s open right now. I really do,” Eberflus said after the game. “You never put a ceiling on any player. You’ll see guys, they get into a game and they start rising up.”

But can Eberflus see Bagent beating out both Walker and Nathan Peterman for that backup role behind Justin Fields?

“Everything’s open right now,” Eberflus said. “Everybody can look at the roster and see who’s in a competition. Those are all going to be open. If you close your mind off to that, then you might be missing on something. So you have to let it play itself out.”

Saturday’s game wasn’t a fluke. It’s not as if it was one game where Walker struggled and Bagent flashed. Ask anyone who’s been at training camp and they’ll tell you this has been happening all summer. Everyone’s just finally getting to see it happen.

Whether or not Bagent actually winds up making the 53-man roster or being QB2 remains to be seen. But we’ll soon learn the answer heading into an interesting preseason finale.

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