4 things to watch for in Chicago Bears final preseason game
By Todd Welter
The backup quarterback battle.
P.J. Walker was given a couple of million guaranteed in the offseason to backup Justin Fields. He has been playing badly in camp and the preseason.
Undrafted free agent rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent is having an outstanding preseason. He has become a cult hero among Chicago Bears fans.
Bagent has played so well that he has a legitimate shot to win the backup quarterback job. Not bad for a guy trying to make the leap from Division II college football.
Matt Eberflus said the Bears' backup quarterback role is up for grabs as Tyson Bagent presses PJ Walker for the position: "That was created by pure competition."
— Chris Emma (@CEmma670) August 24, 2023
Nathan Peterman has also played well, albeit against players who will most likely not make an NFL roster.
It will be interesting to see how many reps these three get since Fields is getting some game action.
However, Bagent is trying to make a serious leap in competition. It would be a tall ask to have him go from the D-II level to one injury away from having to play in a real NFL game with defenses trying.
He has done enough to make the practice squad if he clears waivers. However, if he balls out against Buffalo like he did last week versus the Colts, he might force the front office’s hands to have him on the roster as the team’s third quarterback.
Walker needs to have a good game to quiet the calls for Bagent to take his spot.