The Bears are finally lined up for a preseason game, and the opener against the Browns should tell us a little - just not everything - about where this roster stands. With a pile of position battles still unresolved and injuries shaping who might have to step into bigger roles later, this first exhibition has a lot of moving parts.
One of the clearest things to watch is Tyson Bagent, who could be in for a productive night. Last preseason, he piled up more than 500 passing yards and five touchdowns against one interception across three games, and that kind of output is the benchmark here. Against a Browns defense that is still in transition, Bagent looks like a quarterback who should be able to move the offense.
The other side of the ball is a different story. Chicago’s secondary is banged up enough that this may not be a clean showing.
Cleveland doesn’t exactly bring a loaded quarterback room, but the Browns do have enough NFL starts among them to make life interesting. An interception or two would be a bonus, but the expectation level for the corners and safeties needs to stay modest.
There is one exception in that back end, and it’s Xavier Woods. He’s only been with the team for about a week, but he’s already stepped into the safety role Coby Bryant had before his injury, which is expected to keep him sidelined for four to six months. With the rest of the secondary looking thin, Woods stands out as the player most likely to shine.
Up front, the left tackle competition still won’t have a clear answer when the game ends. Braxton Jones isn’t playing, so this matchup won’t settle the job.
Kiran Amegadjie and Jedrick Wills Jr. may not do enough to separate themselves from Jones either. That uncertainty also helps explain why Caleb Williams isn’t playing in this one.
And then there’s Johnson, who has spent the offseason hearing his name tossed around as a cut candidate by nearly every NFL writer. That kind of talk can fuel a player, and he’ll have a chance to show some aggression and motivation here. A breakout run game performance and a short-yardage touchdown would fit the script.
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Tyson Bagent Just Got A Bears Chance That Could Change Everything
Tyson Bagent is about to get a meaningful chance in the Bears preseason opener, and for a quarterback who has spent much of his time trying to prove he belongs, that is no small thing. Chicago is lining him up for extended work right away, giving the third-year passer a stage to show what he can do while the team sorts through its quarterback picture behind the scenes.
Bagents performance this month could end up mattering well beyond one exhibition game. If he handles the opportunity well, he could put himself into a very different conversation as the Bears weigh how stable their quarterback room looks, and there are already clubs around the league that could be watching closely for a young passer who might become available. [Read more 🡒]
Tyson Bagent Gives Bears Fans An Early Look They Will Want
Ben Johnson is giving Bears fans an early preseason glimpse at a quarterback they already know well. Tyson Bagent will start against the Browns with Caleb Williams and some other starters sitting out, putting the backup back in a familiar spot where he can show the steady play that caught Chicagos attention in the first place.
Bagent has already made the most of limited chances during the 2023 season, and the Bears showed what they thought of him by extending his contract later that year. The preseason opener gives him another opportunity to reinforce that confidence, while also offering a first look at how Johnson wants the position handled when the games begin to count. [Read more 🡒]