Tag: Tyson Bagent

Bears QB Tyson Bagent nominated for Pepsi Rookie of the Week

Fans can vote for Tyson Bagent to win the Week 7 Rookie of the Week award.

The good vibes keep coming for Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent. The Bears defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 30-12 in Bagent’s first NFL start as he filled in for Justin Fields, who is dealing with an injured thumb on his throwing hand. Bagent went 21-of-29 for 162 yards with one touchdown and no turnovers to keep the offense moving in front of dozens of friends and family. He’s the first Bears rookie quarterback to win his debut start since Craig Krenzel back in 2004.

His efforts were rewarded after the win with a game ball and now with the chance to win Pepsi® Zero Sugar Rookie of the Week. Bagent is one of six players to be nominated for the Week 7 award, along with Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs, Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs, New York Giants cornerback Deonte Banks, and Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison.

Bagent is the second Bears player to be nominated for the award this year, joining rookie cornerback Terell Smith after his contributions in Week 5 against the Washington Commanders. Fans can vote for Bagent by visiting nfl.com/voting/rookies/.

Bears rookie QB Tyson Bagent snags first win in blowout over Raiders

Tyson Bagent was one of the best players in D2 football last season.

It doesn’t make for a much better story than having an undrafted Division II quarterback come into training camp, win a roster position, win the backup job, and dominate his first game against a fourteen-year veteran quarterback. The Chicago Bears’ newest rookie sensation Tyson Bagent was able to do just that and look pretty darn good doing it too.

There wasn’t much expected out of Bagent who was inserted as the starter due to an injury to Justin Fields, but he certainly exceeded what little expectations existed for an undrafted rookie on a team with a losing record. Bagent managed to look like a veteran out on the field completing 21/29 passes, with one touchdown, and zero turnovers for a quarterback rating of 97.2 as the Bears marched to a blowout victory of 30-12.

While Bagent may have not blown the roof of the stadium or made fans immediately want him to start over Justin Fields he certainly left an impression. With Fields expected to miss multiple weeks, Bagent can be expected to start once again, and if this level of production continues with the wins following along, there very well could be a quarterback controversy in Chicago sooner rather than later.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Bears QB Justin Fields ‘doubtful’ for Week 8, Tyson Bagent expected to start vs. Chargers

Get ready for more of rookie Tyson Bagent, as Bears starter Justin Fields is doubtful against the Chargers.

The Chicago Bears are coming off a big win over the Las Vegas Raiders with rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent making his first NFL start in place of an injured Justin Fields.

Fields suffered a dislocated right thumb in Week 6 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, and he missed Sunday’s game as a result. There have been a number of reports indicating Fields could return as soon as this week against the Los Angeles Chargers, but that doesn’t appear to be the case.

Head coach Matt Eberflus said Fields is officially “doubtful” for Sunday night’s game, and the team will prepare for Bagent to make his second NFL start against the Chargers.

“He’s just not there yet,” Eberflus said of Fields.

Bagent was efficient in his first NFL start, where he orchestrated the game manager role perfectly. He completed 21-of-29 passes for 162 yards with one touchdown and no turnovers. Bagent leaned on a steady dose of the run game and got some help from his defense. We’ll see if Chicago opens things up for Bagent in his second start.

Eberflus reiterated that the team is “on the right path” to Fields avoiding surgery on his thumb.

The hope is Fields will be able to return in Week 9 when the Bears battle the New Orleans Saints.

Bears rookie Tyson Bagent earns game ball, praise from Matt Eberflus

Bears rookie Tyson Bagent was efficient in his first NFL start, which was also a victory.

Rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent collected his first win in his first NFL start as the Chicago Bears topped the Las Vegas Raiders, 30-12, on Sunday. The win ended a 10-game home losing streak at Soldier Field, a stretch that spanned over 390 calendar days.

He was one of three Bears players — including cornerback Jaylon Johnson and running back D’Onta Foreman — to receive a game ball from Matt Eberflus following the win.

And the message from his head coach?

“Just that it was my first career start,” Bagent said after the game. “Pretty big deal for any quarterback that get his first career start. Just everybody rallying around me and making me feel good, I always appreciate that.”

The undrafted rookie relieved the injured Justin Fields in Week 6 against the Minnesota Vikings. It took a couple of drives for Bagent to settle in, and once he did, his potential was visibly apparent.

Against the Raiders, Bagent was efficient in moving the ball. He made the smart play and, more often than not, the safe pass. Aside from one sack late in the first half, Bagent had relatively no pressure.

He did what any new quarterback should do, letting his playmakers do the heavy lifting. And more importantly, Bagent did not turn the ball over.

“I thought he did a nice job,” Eberflus said of the young quarterback. “Those speed outs, the one that he hit to DJ (Moore) at the end in that big third down, that was nice. That was good. And really, the ability to evade and then also throw the ball, I thought he did a nice job. Nice, accurate passes there, too.”

Bagent finished the day going 21-of-29 for 162 yards, a 97.2 quarterback rating, and a touchdown pass to Foreman in the third quarter.

His 72.4 percent completion rate was the third-highest by an undrafted rookie quarterback, making his first career start in the common-draft era.

The Bears offense was efficient in moving the ball because Bagent was able to get the ball out before being pressured. The Raiders were credited with just three quarterback hits, as Bagent used his mobility to extend plays.

Eberflus reiterated that Fields will be the starting quarterback when he returns from his thumb injury. His status for next week remains unknown at this time.

However, the conversation for who should be the starter could heat up should Bagent lead the Bears to a road win against the Los Angeles Chargers next week on Sunday Night Football.

Bears HC Matt Eberflus reiterates Justin Fields is starting QB

Tyson Bagent was efficient in the Bears’ Week 7 win, but Matt Eberflus said Justin Fields will be the starter once he returns from injury.

The Chicago Bears dominated the Las Vegas Raiders en route to a 30-12 victory, the team’s first home win since Sept. 25, 2022.

Rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent got the start in place of an injured Justin Fields, nursing a right thumb injury. Bagent was impressive in his first NFL start, executing the role of game manager to perfection.

Bagent was efficient as Chicago’s starting quarterback, completing 21-of-29 passes for 162 yards with one touchdown and no turnovers. So much so that he ignited a quarterback controversy among fans.

But head coach Matt Eberflus made it clear after Sunday’s win, once Fields is 100 percent healthy: “Justin’s our starting quarterback, Tyson’s our backup.”

There have been various reports that indicate Fields could be back as soon as Week 8 when the Bears battle the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday Night Football or that he could miss the next game and return against the New Orleans Saints in Week 9.

Eberflus said the team should know more on the timing of Fields’ return Monday.

Rob Gronkowski poured cold water on a Bears QB controversy by rightfully roasting the Raiders

Rob Gronkowski doesn’t think Tyson Bagent will take Justin Fields’ job because the Raiders just stink.

Facing a seemingly impossible situation as a former Division II quarterback, Tyson Bagent did his job Sunday. (Even though, yes, he apparently couldn’t throw a Hail Mary). While filling in for an injured Justin Fields, Bagent completed 21-of-29 passes for 162 yards and one touchdown in a 30-12 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. He even had direct support from Fields himself after throwing his first career NFL touchdown.

Given where the 2-5 Bears currently stand, the NFL on Fox panel discussed Bagent’s successful day. It wondered whether Chicago has a budding quarterback controversy as Fields heals from an injured thumb.

That is, except for Rob Gronkowski.

The future Hall of Fame tight end poured cold water on any inkling of a Chicago quarterback controversy by noting that the atrocious Raiders didn’t simply challenge Bagent enough to warrant him taking Fields’ job. He emphatically stated that Fields is the better player and that the Bears are just hoping to stay above water as he gets healthy again.

Honestly, Gronkowski couldn’t be more correct. The most famous active Bears player is usually the backup quarterback. But Bagent didn’t achieve nearly enough Sunday to warrant him still starting games over Fields once he’s 100 percent. (Never mind that Fields is only a couple of weeks removed from throwing eight touchdowns in a matter of days.)
Any Bagent success Sunday was obviously related more to the Raiders being awful, much to Hall of Famer Howie Long’s chagrin.

Raiders 30-12 loss in Chicago contender for most embarrassing of Josh McDaniels’ era

Raiders debacle in Chicago contender for most embarrassing of Josh McDaniels’ era

As bad as the Raiders have been at times this season, they were actually 2.5-point favorites in Chicago Sunday. That’s because the Bears were one of the worst teams in the NFL and were without starting quarterback Justin Fields and starting an undrafted Division II rookie Tyson Bagent in his place.

The Raiders were without their starter as well, with Jimmy Garoppolo down with an injured back. In his place was 15-year veteran Brian Hoyer.

The thinking seemed to be that Hoyer was able to do enough last week to let the Raiders defense secure a 21-17 win over the Patriots. And with the Bears not figuring to be able to mount much of an attack on offense, Hoyer could at least be a steady presence over rookie Aidan O’Connell.

None of this game went the way the Raiders had hoped.

The Bears ran all over the Raiders’ defense while the Raiders offense was stuck in cement. And at QB, it was Bagent who was the steady presence while Hoyer completed just 17 passes for 126 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions — one a pick six.

The Bears jumped out to a 14-0 lead early and were up 21-3 by the end of the third quarter. Their third touchdown looking like the one that iced it because the Raiders offense hasn’t broken 20 points all season. They only managed 21 points last week because of a game-clinching safety.

But even being down that much with 12 minutes left in the game, after the offense failed to get a touchdown on seven attempts from the nine-yard-line and Josh McDaniels sent out the field goal unit.

A field goal and a pick six put the Bears up 30-6 with just over five minutes left.

The debacle had many people asking is this was the most embarrassing of Josh McDaniels’s time as Raiders head coach.

It’s a valid question because there have been at least two more losses that may give this one a run for its money.

Last season the Raiders faced the Colts with recent high school coach Jeff Saturday making his NFL head coaching debut. Saturday’s Colts would beat McDaniels’s Raiders and then fail to win another game.

A few weeks later, the Raiders would face the Rams with Baker Mayfield at quarterback having signed with the team two days prior and not even having had an official practice and Mayfield carved the Raiders up.

For what it’s worth, the Saturday/Colts loss got my vote.

The mere fact that we’re asking this question is saying a lot. That in just 24 games as head coach of the Raiders, we have three losses that are so completely embarrassing that it’s hard to say which one takes the prize.

And it’s not like the Raiders have played well otherwise and this game comes out of nowhere.

After a 17-16 win over the Broncos in the season opener thanks to the Broncos missing a field goal and an extra point, the Raiders rattled off three straight losses. Then, despite the offense scoring 17 and 19 points, they managed to put together consecutive wins against struggling Packers and Patriots teams to pull to .500.

The Bears came in bad enough most figured the Raiders — despite clearly being one of the worst teams in football — would still be able to get the win to pull to a winning record. Not only did they fail to do that, but it was never close.

It isn’t often a team is even put in a position to face either a recent high school coach in his debut or a quarterback who was signed two days prior, or an undrafted former Division II rookie making his first start. Let alone look as terrible as the Raiders have in those matchups.

For that reason, it’s hard to imagine McDaniels will have another game this season that will measure up to the level of embarrassment we saw Sunday in Chicago. But I won’t rule it out. They have ten more games this season to top it.

Bears CB Jaylon Johnson seals the game with 2 INTs vs. Raiders

Bears CB Jaylon Johnson had himself a day vs. the Raiders.

The Chicago Bears can take a collective sigh of relief after securing their first home win in more than a calendar year, defeating the Las Vegas Raiders, 30-12.

Rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent likely couldn’t have drawn up a better first NFL start, but the defense put the finishing touches on the Bears’ win over the Raiders on Sunday.

Cornerback Jaylon Johnson silenced the critics with his first two-interception game, including an interception returned for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Johnson had just one career interception before Sunday.

With the Raiders facing a first-and-10 on their own 25-yard line, quarterback Brian Hoyer looked toward wide receiver Davante Adams. But Johnson jumped the route and took it to the house.

It was the first pick-six for the Bears since Week 2 of the 2021 season, snapping the longest drought in the National Football League.

One minute later, with rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell under center, Johnson again picked off a deep ball down the right sideline.

Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds also collected his first interception in a Bears uniform.

The Bears will look to string two wins together with a matchup on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday Night Football next week.

Justin Fields looked so happy for Bears backup QB Tyson Bagent after he threw his first TD

Justin Fields showed what it means to be a good and classy teammate here.

With Justin Fields nursing a thumb injury, backup quarterback and former Division II player Tyson Bagent had to play hero for the Chicago Bears on Sunday.

The young player shouldered the responsibility well, guiding Chicago to a 21-3 lead over the Las Vegas Raiders. He didn’t make any flash plays, but he also more or less kept the Bears’ offense rolling along with a solid ground-based attack Las Vegas had no answer for. Even if Bagent seemingly couldn’t throw Hail Marys, he punctuated a solid game-manager performance by throwing his first career NFL touchdown to running back D’Onta Foreman.

It’s simple plays and throws like this that could give Bagent a long, serviceable career as a backup:

However, what might have been more notable was what happened after the Bears offense left the field. In a still photo (via @_MarcusD3_ on Twitter), a clearly ecstatic Fields seemed so happy for his young backup. Fields beamed with a hilarious grin when Bagent sat down next to him on the Chicago bench:

Folks, that’s what it means to be a good teammate. It’s not the highest bar, especially for Fields, as he deals with a tough injury situation, but that’s how you show support for guys trying to make a name for themselves. It’s what you’re supposed to do — hype up your teammates.

It’s abundantly clear Fields cares about Bagent and wants to see him do well, regardless of what bearing it could have on his own Chicago future. That’s what it’s all about.