The Chicago Bears used their preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins to give their backups a chance to shine, with Tyson Bagent and Case Keenum taking the lion’s share of reps before Austin Reed finished things off.
Bagent was on the field for the entire first half, Keenum saw time in the latter portion, and Reed closed the game. Reed’s future with the team appears uncertain, with speculation that he could be cut or land on the practice squad after training camp. By contrast, Bagent and Keenum look entrenched as the backup and third-string options, though exactly who lands which role remains to be decided.
Bagent stood out with his work in the pocket and his precision on a critical play late in the first half—a back-of-the-end-zone touchdown pass to Maurice Alexander. After the game, head coach Ben Johnson praised the moment, saying, “I thought Tyson did a great job. That was one of those high back throws we’ve been talking about. Maurice is actually the secondary option, so number one wasn’t there. Tyson got to number two and gave him a chance. He climbed the ladder and went up there and got both feet inbounds. Huge play for us there in that tight window.”
That touchdown put the Bears on the scoreboard for the first time in the game and offered a glimpse of a functioning offense, something Chicago hadn’t experienced in quite a while during the preseason. While no quarterback was flawless, both Bagent and Keenum showed enough to suggest they can operate a pro-style game when called upon.
Johnson also noted that both quarterbacks operated at a high level given the broader camp challenges—pre-snap penalties and the pace of change, from cover zero looks to base 11 personnel. He said they were not perfect, but they were smooth enough to keep the unit moving and create opportunities for progress.
The lesson from the night: these backups have embraced their roles and are providing valuable experience behind Williams. Bagent is 2-2 as a starter, and Keenum has already delivered big plays in the league, including notable moments in earlier playoff scenarios. Reed’s presence adds depth, but his immediate future with the team is the subject of ongoing evaluation.
As the Bears head toward the next steps in camp and the forthcoming preseason games, the coaching staff will be weighing roster decisions with an eye toward depth and reliability at quarterback. The early return is promising for a group that is integral to sustaining an offense when the top option isn’t on the field.
Additional notes and value-added context:
– The performance of the backup quarter trio could influence how much live-game action the top quarterback sees in the remaining preseason contests.
– Positive takeaway: the unit managed to stay organized under pressure and adapt to different looks, an encouraging sign for game readiness.
– Potential storyline to watch: how the Bears balance the quarterback room on the final roster, and whether Reed remains on the practice squad or earns a bump to the active roster later in the season.
Summary: The Bears’ preseason opener offered positive signs from their quarterback depth, with Bagent’s growth and a pivotal touchdown to Alexander highlighting a night where the offense began to hum behind the backups. The coaching staff’s praise for composure and execution, even amid imperfect details, sets up an intriguing early competition for the backup roles as camp continues.
Overall sentiment: positive