The Chicago Bears appear set to turn back to Tyson Bagent at quarterback for today’s game against the New York Jets, even though head coach Ben Johnson kept the decision quiet all week after Caleb Williams was ruled out with a hamstring injury.
That choice comes after Case Keenum delivered a big performance in last week’s 27-7 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Keenum completed more than 70% of his passes for 247 yards, threw two touchdown passes, accounted for three total touchdowns, and did not throw an interception. Still, multiple reports pointed to Bagent as the starter, with The Athletic’s Dan Wiederer first reporting the news.
Bagent was unavailable last week while he continued recovering from a concussion and was unable to get reps during the week. Chicago’s decision to go with him now is notable, especially after Keenum’s strong outing, but the Bears’ offseason commitment says plenty: Bagent signed a two-year, $10 million contract extension this offseason, a clear sign the team views him as a high-end QB2.
The 26-year-old has made only four starts since entering the league in 2023, all during his rookie season, and has appeared in 13 games overall. In those starts, he has gone 2-2, completing 65.8% of his passes for 971 yards, three touchdowns and six interceptions.
After a strong summer, there’s optimism around Bagent, and today gives him his first NFL start since 2023 and just the fifth of his career. He’ll get that shot against a Jets defense that started the season looking sharp against the Titans and Packers before slipping against the Lions’ elite offense last week.
For Bagent, it’s a chance to help the Bears chase back-to-back wins and their third victory of the season. For the Jets, the need for a win feels just as urgent.
In Other News...
Jets Loss Raised A Bigger Concern Than Just One Bad Sunday
The Jets left Week 4 with a 1-3 record, but the loss to the Bears felt like more than just another bad Sunday. Chicago kept the pressure on with a long, sustained offensive rhythm, running 89 plays and finding success both on the ground and through the air, which put New Yorks defense in chase mode for much of the afternoon. For a team trying to establish some early-season footing, that kind of imbalance is a warning sign as much as it is a loss.
Geno Smiths uneven day added to the unease, as he completed 8 of 15 passes for 119 yards and a touchdown while the offense never really found a steady pulse. Garrett Wilson and other key pieces were not featured enough, which only sharpened the sense that this was not just about one quarterback or one game plan. The bigger concern is whether the Jets are already drifting into a pattern where both sides of the ball are too inconsistent to support a turnaround. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Backfield Question Just Got More Uncomfortable For Aaron Glenn
Isaiah Davis has become one of the quieter mysteries in the Jets backfield, and the timing has only made it more noticeable. Even with Breece Hall sidelined for a recent game because of injury, Davis did not get an offensive snap, while Braelon Allen handled all 14 carries in the loss to the Chicago Bears. For a third-year running back on a team still sorting out its rushing workload, that kind of usage raises obvious questions about how the Jets are viewing the depth chart.
Aaron Glenn has not publicly explained Daviss absence from the offense, and Davis himself has not addressed the lack of touches. In a backfield already under scrutiny, the silence only adds to the unease around how the Jets are managing their running backs and whether they have enough trust in the options behind Hall. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Fans Have A New Reason To Revisit That Chippy Lions Loss
The Jets already had plenty to stew over from that chippy loss to Detroit, and the leagues latest accountability report added another layer to it. On Wednesday, the NFL fined Lions receiver Jameson Williams $23,417 for unnecessary roughness after helmet-to-helmet contact in the game against New York, a reminder of how heated that matchup got and how often the Lions were walking a line.
Williams has now been fined multiple times this season, including earlier penalties for taunting and illegal celebrations, and he was not the only Detroit player on the report. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Penei Sewell and Jahmyr Gibbs also drew fines for celebrations and vulgar acts, giving Jets fans a fresh reason to revisit a game that already carried more edge than the final score suggested. [Read more 🡒]