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.
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Bears' Tyson Bagent: Dealing with illness
Rotowire
Bagent didn't participate in practice Wednesday due to an illness.
The nature and severity of Bagent's ailment aren't known, but he'll still have two more days to potentially return to practice and clear up his availability for Sunday's season finale versus the Packers. Since starting four straight games between Weeks 7 and 10, Bagent hasn't seen any snaps in any of the Bears' subsequent six contests while Justin Fields has made his return from a thumb injury.
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Bears' Tyson Bagent: Picked off thrice in Week 9 loss
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Bagent completed 18 of 30 passes for 220 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions in the Bears' 24-17 loss to the Saints on Sunday. He also rushed eight times for 70 yards and lost a fumble while recovering another.
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.
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Bears' Tyson Bagent: Week 8 Waiver Priority List
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Bagent did OK in his first start in place of Justin Fields (thumb) in Week 7 against Las Vegas with 14.9 Fantasy points. Bagent could start again in Week 8 at the Chargers, and he should be added in all Superflex and two-quarterback leagues for at least 5 percent of your FAB. The Chargers allow the most Fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, and Bagent might have to throw more than the 29 times he did against the Raiders if the Bears are chasing points at Los Angeles. Consider Bagent a deep sleeper in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues for Week 8.
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Bears' Tyson Bagent: Adds/Streamers (QB Preview)
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Bagent looked better than expected in his first start and now faces a Chargers defense that has been one of the worst in the NFL. He's a very good two-QB streaming option.
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Bears' Tyson Bagent: Avoids mistakes in Week 7 win
Rotowire
Bagent completed 21 of 29 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 30-12 win over the Raiders. He added 24 rushing yards on three carries.
Making his first career NFL start, Bagent didn't take many chances downfield -- his longest completion went for only 17 yards -- but the undrafted rookie out of Division II Shepherd also didn't make any big mistakes and leaned on Chicago's running game to produce points. Justin Fields (thumb) could return as soon as Week 8 against the Chargers, but if he isn't ready to return, Bagent performed well enough Sunday to earn a second start.
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Bears' Tyson Bagent: Serviceable in emergency duty
Rotowire
Bagent took over for an injured Justin Fields (hand) with 8:07 remaining in the third quarter of the Bears' 19-13 loss to the Vikings on Sunday, completing 10 of 14 passes for 83 yards with no touchdowns and one interception and rushing twice for four yards and a touchdown. He also committed a fumble that was returned for a score.
Bagent's final numbers were certainly acceptable considering his status as an undrafted rookie seeing his first regular-season action. However, his fumble, which came on the second play of his professional career, would end up being the difference in the game, as it was returned 42 yards for a touchdown by Jordan Hicks. Bagent would later bring the Bears to within six points with his one-yard rushing score midway through the fourth quarter, but Chicago wouldn't find the end zone again. The X-rays performed on Fields' injured hand were negative, but if the MRI the quarterback is scheduled for Monday reveals a more serious injury, Bagent could be called on to start in a Week 7 home matchup against the Raiders.
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Bears' Tyson Bagent: Moves up to second on depth chart
Rotowire
Bagent will be active as the Bears' No. 2 quarterback Sunday against the Broncos and is expected to serve as Justin Fields' top backup moving forward, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Rapoport notes that Bagent's move up the depth chart has nothing to do with Fields' standing with the organization amid an 0-3 start to the season; instead, the undrafted rookie has apparently made enough of an impression over his first four weeks of regular-season practices to jump veteran Nathan Peterman on the depth chart. Peterman remains on the 53-man roster but will likely be a healthy inactive for the foreseeable future so long as both Fields and Bagent are available.
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Bears' Tyson Bagent: Considered inactive
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Bagent (coach's decision) is inactive Sunday against the Packers, Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Bagent will still technically be dressed as the team's No. 3 quarterback, and he can enter the game for emergency purposes.
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Bears' Tyson Bagent: Loses backup battle to Peterman
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Bagent will be Chicago's emergency third quarterback behind Justin Fields and Nathan Peterman against the Packers on Sunday, Courtney Cronin of ESPN reports.
A new NFL rule for the 2023 season will allow teams to carry an emergency third quarterback from the 53-man roster without using one of the 48 active gameday spots. Bagent will fill such a role for the Bears, which means the rookie won't get a chance to make his NFL debut unless both Fields and Peterman get hurt. Peterman's experience ultimately helped him edge out Bagent for the top backup spot.
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Bears' Tyson Bagent: Competing for No. 3 role
Rotowire
Bagent is battling with Nathan Peterman to be Chicago's third-string quarterback, Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic reports.
Bagent is an undrafted free agent, but the Bears may be more interested in seeing if they can develop him instead of sticking with Peterman, who has NFL experience. Ultimately, this camp battle is expected to determine who is behind Justin Fields and PJ Walker on the depth chart.
