Tyson Bagent’s return to the starting role at Lambeau ended the way the Bears could least afford it: with turnovers, a stalled offense and a 31-7 loss to the Packers that wiped out the momentum Chicago had built over the past two weeks.
Bagent was announced as the starter days in advance, but the move never paid off. He finished 12 of 21 for 87 yards with two interceptions before being benched late in favor of Case Keenum. By the time Keenum entered, Green Bay had already taken control and Chicago was trying to claw back from a deficit of more than 20 points.
That outcome carried extra weight because the Bears had spent the previous two games building a case that they could survive without Caleb Williams. Case Keenum’s dramatic showing against the Eagles in Week 3 had fueled that idea, and then Bagent started against the Jets in Week 4 and delivered a mixed outing.
He went 25 of 34 for 268 yards, but he threw no touchdowns and was intercepted once in the official line. He also had four total interceptions on the day, though penalties repeatedly erased them.
That’s what made Sunday so damaging: it didn’t just expose one quarterback. It chipped away at both of Chicago’s backup plans.
Bagent had drawn significant trade interest before training camp, but Bears general manager Ryan Poles kept the price high. Yet when preseason arrived, Bagent appeared to have slipped from the form he showed behind Caleb Williams. Against Green Bay, the interception problems were impossible to ignore.
The run game, which had carried Chicago through much of the season, didn’t save them either. The Bears managed only 81 rushing yards against the Packers, a sharp drop from the production that had helped define their season and had even put them in the conversation for the NFL’s best ground attack.
For two weeks, the Bears could point to defense and the run game as a way to cover for the quarterback situation. Sunday took away both safety nets at once.
The quarterbacks kept giving the ball away, and the rushing attack never got going. If Williams isn’t back for Atlanta, Chicago suddenly looks a lot less like a team with answers and a lot more like one searching for them.
In Other News...
Caleb Williams Return Talk Just Put Bears Fans On Edge
Caleb Williams finally took a small step back onto the practice field Friday, working in a limited capacity for the first time after nearly three weeks away with the hamstring injury he suffered in Week 2. The Bears already ruled him out for Week 5, but the sight of their quarterback doing anything at all in practice was enough to get the discussion moving again around when he might be ready to steer the offense back.
The immediate focus now turns to the next game on the calendar, with Williams pushing to get back in time for a matchup with the Atlanta Falcons in Week 6. Before the injury, he had given Chicago a promising glimpse of both his arm and his mobility, and the Bears will be watching closely to see whether this recovery trend keeps building or forces them to stay patient a little longer. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Offense Just Made Caleb Williams Even More Essential
Chicagos offense has spent the past week reminding everyone how quickly the conversation changes when Caleb Williams is not on the field. Tyson Bagents rough outing against Green Bay only underscored how much the Bears have leaned on Williams since his strong start to the season, and the absence of running back Kyle Monangai has added another layer of strain to an attack trying to find any kind of rhythm.
With the Bears heading into Week 6 against Atlanta, the next few practices matter a lot. The expectation is that Williams will be back in the starting lineup, but his availability will come down to how he looks in the lead-up, which leaves the offense waiting on its most important piece before it can really settle back in. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Left Lambeau With New Questions And One Unexpected Bright Spot
The Bears left Lambeau Field with plenty to sort through after a lopsided Week 5 loss to the Packers, a game that unraveled quickly thanks to five turnovers and a 31-7 final. Chicagos offense never found much rhythm, and the defeat only added to the growing questions around a roster still trying to define itself on both sides of the ball.
Austin Booker was the one clear bright spot in an otherwise bleak afternoon, flashing the kind of pass-rush impact the Bears can build around. His pressure on Jordan Love gave Chicago something to hang onto, even as other familiar names drew criticism for uneven play and missed opportunities, leaving the Bears with more concern than comfort as they move on from Green Bay. [Read more 🡒]