The Bears are trying to make it to 2-0 with their backup quarterbacks, but that won’t happen unless a few key players raise their level in Week 4 against the Jets. Chicago has some areas that need cleaning up, and this matchup will put a handful of names under the microscope.
Jaylon Johnson is one of them. He had a rough opener against the Carolina Panthers, and while he has been better since then, there have still been a few catches that stood out over the last two weeks.
That has to tighten up fast. The Bears need more from him if they’re going to keep winning with a backup quarterback.
New York will be without Adonai Mitchell, but Garrett Wilson is still a major problem. When Johnson lines up against Wilson, Chicago needs him to take that matchup away.
The Bears also need Grady Jarrett to hold things down inside. So far this season, he has been the only interior lineman they’ve really trusted.
That matters because the Jets’ offensive line strength comes from its two young tackles, while the guards can be attacked. Chicago’s edge rushers probably won’t win a lot of one-on-one battles here, which puts even more pressure on the middle of the defense.
Jarrett has to be the anchor.
Colston Loveland is another player Chicago needs to get going. The Jets have done a strong job against tight ends this season, limiting Tucker Kraft to two catches for 15 yards and then holding Sam LaPorta to three catches for 44 yards.
Those are quality tight ends, and New York still kept them in check. Aaron Glenn knows what Ben Johnson likes to do, and the Jets’ attention will be on the tight end room again.
Loveland has been quiet through three weeks, and the Bears need him to break through while also snapping New York’s run of success against tight ends.
Malik Muhammad’s performance matters for a different reason. What he does will help shape what the Bears decide to do with Kyler Gordon once Gordon is back. The rookie has already worked both outside and in the slot this season, so this game is a chance to see where he looks best and how he handles the Jets.
Kyle Monangai is also part of the list of Bears who need to step up, giving Chicago another player to watch closely in a game where the margin for error feels thin.
In Other News...
Bears Let An Ugly NFL Streak End At Soldier Field
A long-running oddity finally disappeared at Soldier Field when the Jets snapped an interception drought that had stretched beyond 1,000 days and more than 600 pass attempts. The takeaway for the Bears was a familiar one in a season full of quarterback turnover: backup Tyson Bagent was in at the time, and the turnover came in the second quarter with New Yorks secondary taking advantage of the situation.
Minkah Fitzpatrick was the one who made it happen, and he did it soon after returning from a groin injury. For a Jets defense that had gone far too long without a pick, the play ended one of the longest active droughts in recent NFL history and offered a small but notable defensive lift in Chicago. [Read more 🡒]
Ben Johnson Sent A Clear Message About The Bears Quarterback Room
The Bears took care of the Jets with a run-heavy showing that leaned on Kyle Monangai, who ripped through New York for 146 yards and two touchdowns as Chicago controlled the game on the ground and on the clock. It was also a notable night for the quarterback room, with Ben Johnson opening the game by giving veteran Case Keenum one snap before turning things over to Tyson Bagent, who settled in and handled the bulk of the work.
Bagent finished 25 of 34 for 268 yards and an interception, a line that fit the way Chicago wanted to play in a game where the defense and run game carried plenty of the load. The choice to start Keenum for a play and then move quickly to Bagent was hard to miss, especially in a win where the Bears were able to dictate terms while the Jets struggled to generate much without Breece Hall. [Read more 🡒]
Tyson Bagent Faces One Bears Test That Could Decide Everything
Tyson Bagent is set to make his first start since the 2023 season in Week 4 against the Jets, with Caleb Williams still out because of a hamstring injury. Bagent has been handling most of the first-team reps in practice, and this week has become a real test of how the Bears want to function with a different kind of quarterback in place.
For Chicago, the question is less about asking Bagent to be a hero than about what a workable game plan looks like around him. His style gives the Bears a chance to lean into what he does well, but the bigger issue is whether the offense can stay on schedule and avoid forcing him into spots that dont fit his strengths. [Read more 🡒]