Losing Caleb Williams was never the plan. No team goes into a season hoping its starting quarterback goes down. It rarely ends well. The Chicago Bears are no different. Plenty of players in that locker room likely agree that they would have won that game last week if Williams’ hamstring hadn’t given out when it did. They would much rather have him healthy for Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles. That said, the news that backup quarterback Tyson Bagent had also suffered a concussion hit almost as hard.
However, his situation was different for reasons.
Part of it was knowing the Bears might have to go to their third option, a 38-year-old Case Keenum who hasn’t played in three years. However, it wasn’t just that. It was the gutwrenching timing. Remember, people have insisted for two solid years that Bagent is capable of being a starter in this league. He’s been consistently great in the preseason. All he needed was an opportunity to show it. Then, when that opportunity finally arrives, he immediately gets hurt before he can take full advantage.
Mercifully, the football gods might be throwing him a bone just in the nick of time.
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Tyson Bagent still has a chance to fulfill his destiny.
Returning to practice on Saturday was a huge shift in the right direction. It means he’s progressed far enough in the concussion protocol that doctors feel he’s almost ready to go. Barring a setback on Sunday, there is a good chance he’ll be cleared. From there, it comes down to whether head coach Ben Johnson feels he is prepared enough to take on the Eagles on Monday night. Saturday’s practice no doubt plays a major part in determining that. Right now, it feels like Bagent is gaining steam to get the nod.
Let’s not forget. The Bears made him the #2 quarterback for a reason. They believe he is the best option at the position if Williams can’t go. If he’s close to 100% healthy, then it makes no sense to hold him back. He knows the offense. He’s been preparing for this moment for over three years. Tyson Bagent doesn’t need a full week of practice to know what he is doing. The Bears have every reason to give him the ball in this game and let him find out if he can truly hack it, once and for all.
If he can? The Bears stand to benefit.
Bagent playing well and winning on Monday night would be a major boon for the organization, both in the short and long term. It would give Chicago a sorely needed victory against a top NFC opponent. In addition, it would significantly elevate his profile among other NFL franchises. There have been rumblings for some time that franchises have kept an eye on Bagent. They haven’t yet made a serious push because they don’t know how he’ll respond to live action. This game will be the first where everything is geared toward him.
Last week’s offensive game plan was designed for Williams. That won’t be the case this time. Johnson and his staff will design plays meant to maximize what Bagent does best. He’s facing one of the best pass defenses in the league. If he can step up and lead this team to victory, that trade value stands to skyrocket. Watching Keenum instead just doesn’t bring the same air of urgency and confidence.
