5 Chicago Bears takeaways from Pre-Season Week 2
Tyson Bagent is the newest backup QB sensation
I’m sure you’ve heard, but Chicago is high on Tyson Bagent.
Thus far in camp, P.J. Walker has done little to assure Chicago Bears fans that the backup quarterback position is safe. This was not alleviated in Week 1 of the preseason, and it only got worse in Week 2 when the second part of the main event entered in Tyson Bagent.
After a solid showing against the Titans, Bagent followed that performance by going 9-of-10 for 76 yards, good for a passer rating of 98.3 while capping a 92-yard drive with a beautiful 2-yard dive for a touchdown in the 2nd quarter.
Tyson Bagent’s success has been so encouraging that it’s reminding Chicagoans of another backup QB in the NFL who has had success. They hope that Bagent can match it.
I want Tyson Bagent to be what Skylar Thompson is for Miami
— DeeksView (@DeeksViewOG) August 19, 2023
That hope is not founded in ill circumstances. Skylar Thompson finished today as the backup QB for the Miami Dolphins by going 12 of 18 for 141 yards and 3 (THREE!) touchdowns.
If Tyson Bagent can continue on this streak by replicating that kind of success, then we will be talking about how Bagent is going to make the 53-man roster instead of if he will make the roster.
This leads me to my next takeaway…
P.J Walker continues to be highly disappointing
I’m not sure what we all expected, but I’m positive it wasn’t this.
When the Chicago Bears signed P.J. Walker to be the backup quarterback, most pundits believed in the signing. It was thought that the long-term search for a Bears backup QB was over.
Unfortunately, P.J. Walker has done very, very little to dissuade the doubters thus far.
He started this game with Justin Fields out, but his appearance led only to doubt and worry. His time resulted in zero points. Many Chicagoans, as a result, are calling for a true QB2 competition.
While it must be noted that this is the preseason and that P.J. Walker won’t be subjected to the conditions he was in this game, this was also the time when Chicago backup quarterbacks usually thrive and make themselves known in Chicago Bears lore.
That did not happen tonight, and one must begin to wonder if it ever will.