Tyson Bagent is on track to make his first start since the 2023 season in Week 4, and the Bears have a pretty clear blueprint for what a good day looks like from him against the New York Jets.
The big picture is simple enough: Chicago wants the win. But beyond that, Bagent’s success will be measured by how cleanly he handles the offense, how well he protects the ball and whether he can keep the Bears on schedule without forcing things.
Caleb Williams has been ruled out for a second straight week because of his hamstring injury, and he could miss another week or two. That opened the door for Case Keenum in Week 3 against the Philadelphia Eagles, though Bagent wasn’t available after not getting back in time from concussion protocol. Keenum made the most of the opportunity, throwing for 247 yards and accounting for three total touchdowns in the Bears’ 27-7 win.
NFL insider Ian Rapoport was first to report that Bagent is expected to start after getting most of the first-team reps in practice this week. That sets up a real conversation about Bagent, but the more practical question is what he has to do to make the start count.
One place to start is ball security. Keenum did a nice job of staying inside Ben Johnson’s offense and not putting the ball in harm’s way against a tough Eagles pass rush. He took the pressure, found open receivers and finished 11 for 11 when Philadelphia blitzed.
Bagent doesn’t play the same game. He brings more athleticism and can use his legs when the situation calls for it, which gives Chicago some different ways to attack. Rollouts and designed movement could be part of the mix, helping the Bears create easier throws and keep the Jets from pinning him down.
Still, the biggest lesson from Keenum’s start is the one Bagent has to follow: don’t give the game away. If the open man isn’t there, the smart play is to move on and live for the next snap.
No risky throws into crowded coverage. No unnecessary giveaways.
There will be nerves, too. Bagent hasn’t started a game in three years, so the Bears need him to settle in with the easy stuff first.
Short completions, screens, quick hitters and 5- to 8-yard routes can help him find a rhythm while also giving the running game a chance to get going. A few carries with his legs wouldn’t hurt either.
Confidence matters here as well. Johnson said after the Eagles game that Bagent earned the backup job for a reason, and he already proved that in training camp. The expectation is that he should lean into what he showed in preseason rather than trying to be somebody else.
Keenum also made good use of the tight ends, and that should be part of the plan for Bagent early. Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet can be the safety valves while he settles in, before the Bears start looking more often for Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III on deeper routes outside.
If Bagent lands somewhere around 64% completions, 250 passing yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions and another 20 to 40 rushing yards, that would check just about every box the Bears are looking for in a successful Week 4 start.
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 🡒]
Bears Face A Brutal Week 4 Reality As Key Returns Near
The Bears Week 4 picture got a little clearer, and a little harder to ignore, with the final injury report confirming Caleb Williams and Braxton Jones will not be available. Kyler Gordon was also ruled out, though he is still working through his 21-day practice window, which keeps the door open for a return once he is cleared to ramp back up.
There is some lighter news buried in the roster churn, with Shemar Turner and Noah Sewell moving along on the Physically Unable to Perform list and expected back soon. Cam Lewis is also trending the wrong way and is doubtful for the Jets, leaving Chicago to piece together its next steps while waiting for several key names to come back into view. [Read more 🡒]