The Chicago Bears head to Southern California this weekend for a “Sunday Night Football” recreation in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers, contemporary off a dominant 30-12 dwelling victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Not surprisingly, after rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent’s strong efficiency within the win, lots of the questions in Brad Biggs’ weekly Bears mailbag are about Bagent and his potential upside.
Why is everybody so fast to pigeonhole Tyson Bagent as a superb backup? — @kastri7x
No one whose opinion issues is pigeonholing Bagent. Maybe that’s a speaking level after the rookie’s first profession begin in Sunday’s victory over the Raiders. But contained in the constructing and across the league, evaluators don’t have a look at a participant like Bagent and put him in a field or categorize him. Yes, it’s potential front-office varieties may have a look at him and say his talent set profiles as a backup, however nobody places a ceiling on a participant at any place whom they don’t have a lot tape on and haven’t seen play lots.
We can debate for an hour what trajectory Bagent’s profession will take from right here as he prepares for his second begin Sunday night time in opposition to the Chargers at SoFi Stadium, however we’re solely guessing. We could make logical comparisons based mostly on Bagent’s strengths and weaknesses, however he hasn’t performed sufficient to actually outline what he’s good at and the place his recreation wants enchancment.
Society tends to wish to make snap judgments, and that’s not the world NFL front-office executives and coaches dwell in. The debate may go on for fairly a while. Look at Justin Fields. He has 31 profession begins and there may be nonetheless full of life dialog on either side about the place his profession will go from right here. Let’s see what Bagent can do.
I’ve by no means seen a extra spectacular NFL debut by a rookie QB than what Tyson Bagent did on Sunday. Have you? — @tmacnam
I’m not taking something away from Bagent, who accomplished 21 of 29 passes for 162 yards and one landing in a turnover-free efficiency, once I say you may simply compile an inventory of debut begins that exceed that.
- On Sept. 11, 2011, Cam Newton broke onto the scene as a famous person for the Carolina Panthers within the season opener at Arizona. Newton accomplished 24 of 37 passes for 422 yards with two touchdowns and one interception and ran for a landing in a 28-21 loss. Bears co-director of participant personnel Jeff King had a 48-yard landing reception for the Cardinals in that recreation, however Newton was the star of the present.
- A 12 months later, Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III debuted to nice fanfare in a 40-32 victory on Sept. 9 in New Orleans. He accomplished 19 of 26 passes for 320 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions and ran for 42 yards.
- The Cardinals’ Kyler Murray handed for 308 yards and two touchdowns with one interception in a 27-27 tie with the Detroit Lions on Sept. 8, 2019.
- Justin Herbert accomplished 22 of 33 passes for 311 yards with one landing and one decide in his first begin for the Chargers on Sept. 20, 2020, in a 23-20 time beyond regulation loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
If you go all the best way again to 1961, Fran Tarkenton got here off the bench for the Minnesota Vikings within the season opener in opposition to the Bears and accomplished 17 of 23 passes for 250 yards with 4 landing passes and no interceptions and ran for a fifth rating in a 37-13 victory. While it wasn’t a begin, it was an incredible starting to a Hall of Fame profession.
As you may see, it’s simple to compile an inventory of debuts that have been extra statistically spectacular. Bagent did what the Bears requested him to do and led some spectacular drives in opposition to the Raiders. It was a superb begin for him, no query.
What will Tyson Bagent must do to maintain the beginning job when Justin Fields is wholesome? — Dan B., Roselle
A handful of variations of this query appeared within the mailbag this week. My first response is we’re getting somewhat forward of ourselves. Bagent has one strong begin to his credit score and wasn’t requested or compelled to do a complete lot because the Bears relied on a fast passing recreation and a dominant working recreation.
Why didn’t Bagent go downfield extra? I feel recreation move type of dictated that. The Bears have been in management after constructing an early lead and shortly including to it, they usually weren’t pressed into lots of conditions during which Bagent was required to drop again and search for one thing deep. Can he try this? I feel so. How good will he be at it? I do not know. But Bagent appears wired to wish to play extra aggressively, so I feel we’ll see it sooner or later.
Coach Matt Eberflus was requested after the sport if Fields was nonetheless the starter, and his quick response was sure. That ought to come as a shock to nobody. A coach isn’t going to debate potential depth chart adjustments instantly after a recreation. Is it potential Bagent wins the job with a greater outing this week in opposition to the Chargers? I don’t know. I suppose there’s a small probability however I wouldn’t wager on it.
A probable best-case situation for Bagent is he performs properly and Fields’ dislocated proper thumb wants somewhat extra time to heal and he will get one other begin the next week in New Orleans. If Bagent can string collectively three robust begins — and that’s an IF contemplating the historical past of this offense — then the Bears most likely have a dialogue, particularly getting into a brief week with a Thursday recreation at Soldier Field on Nov. 9 in opposition to the Panthers.
Never say by no means, however I nonetheless envision the Bears turning again to Fields when he’s wholesome. But they must play the video games, and the outcomes will give us a a lot better clue.
The resolution to take away Tyson Bagent for the ultimate play of the primary half Sunday appears very odd, one thing you may see on the school stage however virtually by no means within the NFL. I recall years in the past extensive receiver Marty Booker being moved to QB in the same state of affairs however solely as a result of Jim Miller’s elbow was so sore that he wasn’t even taking any apply reps through the week. Seems like this transfer simply raises pointless questions, and they’d have been higher served simply taking a knee or calling a display screen. Were you shocked by this, and having watched Bagent in apply, is his arm so weak that they would wish to make that change? — Tom N., Dayton, Ohio
It was shocking from the standpoint that you simply don’t see in-game quarterback adjustments fairly often. The Bears have been on their 46-yard line with two seconds remaining and dealing with fourth-and-17. An 8 mph wind at kickoff was blowing to the north — they have been heading towards the south finish zone — in order that they determined to insert Peterman. Could Bagent have gotten it to the top zone? I feel he most likely may have with a clear pocket and time to throw. Peterman was pressured and rolled out of the pocket to his left, then wound up fumbling out of bounds when he was hit. The Bears clearly imagine he has a stronger arm for Hail Mary conditions.
I do know arm energy was one query about Bagent when he was popping out of Shepherd. It’s by no means going to be a plus for him, however arm energy is somewhat methods down the guidelines of stuff you’re searching for in a passer. We’ve seen oodles of quarterbacks with cannons for arms fail miserably within the NFL. Anticipation, accuracy, pocket poise — all of these issues are extra essential. Let’s see what Bagent does with extra alternatives during which he’s requested to throw to the second and third ranges of the protection.
What can be a suggestion the Bears couldn’t flip down for Jaylon Johnson? — Marc B., Nashville Tenn.
I don’t assume a suggestion for Johnson will emerge that may make sense for the Bears until a crew deems cornerback an absolute want. Maybe the Buffalo Bills or Dallas Cowboys can be available in the market for protection assist, however Bears normal supervisor Ryan Poles wouldn’t get a second-round decide like he did a 12 months in the past for linebacker Roquan Smith, who additionally was on an expiring contract. Maybe the Bears can be supplied a fourth-round decide, and even that may require a crew to be virtually determined for assist.
If the Bears fail to re-sign Johnson after the season, they determine to be in line for a fourth-round compensatory decide in 2025. That’s, after all, in the event that they don’t go large themselves in free company, which could occur. I feel buying and selling Johnson would ship a nasty message to the locker room. He’s one of many higher gamers on the protection and the Bears are enjoying higher on that facet of the ball. They need this younger roster to expertise success by way of the rest of the season, and swapping Johnson for a mid-round decide would undermine that objective.
I’d say there’s a higher probability Johnson is prolonged earlier than the top of the season than traded, although I don’t know the probabilities of that. The sides must discover widespread floor, and with 10 video games remaining, Johnson most likely must obtain one thing fairly near what he’s searching for to forgo free company. In-season contract negotiations are at all times delicate, and the participant positive factors extra leverage because the season performs out and he will get nearer to free company.
How a lot of the advance within the dashing assault got here from the Raiders protection having to defend the cross and never crowd the road of scrimmage? I do know there weren’t deep passes, however that gave the impression to be a operate of an early lead and never needing to go deep. — John R.
I don’t assume that performed lots into the success of the working recreation, which wasn’t new. The Bears ran for 173 yards on 38 carries, and that was according to what they achieved within the earlier three video games.
- 162 yards, 36 carries vs. Vikings
- 178 yards, 32 carries at Commanders
- 171 yards, 31 carries vs. Broncos
The Bears did a pleasant job of blending personnel in opposition to the Raiders. They ran properly from heavy units. They ran properly with three extensive receivers on the sector. This wasn’t a state of affairs during which they repeatedly unfold out the Raiders with 11 personnel (one working again, one tight finish and three extensive receivers). They did somewhat little bit of all the things to have a productive day on the bottom with D’Onta Foreman and Darrynton Evans.
I anticipate the Bears to proceed to be worthwhile working the ball for the rest of the season. The Raiders have been really centered on stopping the run. That was their recreation plan as they needed to pressure Tyson Bagent into extra passing conditions. The Bears gained the battle up entrance.
Given his harm historical past and cap hit subsequent 12 months, is that this Eddie Jackson’s final 12 months with the Bears? — @stephenclapp1
Jackson’s harm historical past — he has a difficult foot harm now — and his base wage for subsequent season are the most important indicators this could possibly be his last season with the crew. To me, it’s extra about money than wage cap, particularly for the Bears, who will probably be in an advantageous cap place once more getting into 2024. Jackson is due $14.05 million in base wage subsequent season with a $100,000 exercise bonus. It’s unlikely the Bears would wish to pay that until he returns quickly and performs lights out over the rest of the season.
His cap hit for 2024 is $18.14 million. If he’s enjoying at a excessive stage, that’s not an issue. But Jackson turns 30 on Dec. 10 and has missed appreciable time since injuring the foot final November. He has performed in three video games this season, and whereas he offers good management for a younger roster, your leaders have to be on the sector to stay leaders. Maybe there’s a situation during which the Bears carry Jackson again at a lowered wage, however he’d must play properly for the rest of the season and pay lower conditions will be sticky.
I’m not a fan of buying and selling Justin Fields however what are the contract ramifications for the Bears and for the crew that may commerce for him? Would an buying crew must resolve on the fifth-year choice in his contract or does that rule not apply? — @rob_gonigam
Any crew that traded for Fields would purchase his contract as it’s written. So, sure, an buying crew (offered the commerce got here earlier than the deadline for a choice on the 2025 choice, which is shortly after the draft) must make that call. That fifth-year choice is projected to be greater than $20 million and can be totally assured if executed. So, barring a turnaround in consistency when Fields will get again on the sector, it appears unlikely the Bears or another crew would decide up that choice.
I don’t envision a state of affairs during which the Bears would contemplate buying and selling Fields earlier than the deadline at 3 p.m. Tuesday. I positively may see the Bears procuring Fields after the season and earlier than the draft to a crew searching for a quarterback that doesn’t imagine will probably be in play to draft one. It’s potential the Bears may get a mid-round decide in return, as Fields can be on a one-year deal if the fifth-year choice was declined.
Is centre (Canadian spelling) the most important space in want of enchancment proper now? — @raven65
Is it spelled “quartreback” in Canada? Or “edge rushre”?
The Bears want to deal with the offensive line within the offseason, and I took a deep dive into that in No. 2 in my 10 ideas column after the victory over the Raiders. It can be a mistake to counsel heart is the best want on the roster. There’s a purpose facilities usually should not drafted within the first spherical, and plenty of profitable starters emerge from the center rounds.
I’d wish to see Justin Fields get an opportunity behind a greater O-line, however failing that, he’s such a superb athlete, why not strive him as a Taysom Hill-type participant relatively than commerce him for a draft selection? — @edward_weise
You’re referring to a novel state of affairs in New Orleans, the place Hill — a quarterback from BYU who signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2017 — obtained into the combination on particular groups with the Saints later that rookie season. The Saints had Drew Brees at quarterback and Hill wasn’t going to unseat him, in order that they obtained artistic and appeared for methods to make the most of Hill’s athleticism. He returned kickoffs and lined kicks, and finally they used him to run the ball, take occasional snaps at quarterback and play type of a hybrid H-back/tight finish function. Hill did no matter was wanted to stay within the NFL.
Fields was drafted within the first spherical as a quarterback and little question identifies as a quarterback. Loads of of us posed this identical query, and the issue is I don’t assume Fields would go for this and I wouldn’t blame him in any respect. He’s a quarterback.
Where produce other groups discovered success going in opposition to the Chargers this 12 months? I’m shocked that they solely have as many wins — two — because the Bears. — @ajlight315
The Chargers’ 2-4 begin is definitely somewhat shocking, and coach Brandon Staley mentioned they wanted to “reset” after Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs. They have been significantly horrible defending the cross. They are thirty second within the league in each passing yards allowed per recreation (310) and yards allowed per cross try (8.09). Opponents have a 105.6 passer ranking, which ranks thirty first, forward of solely the Broncos (114.2).
While the Chargers have a formidable cross rush led by former Bear Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa, they’ve allowed large performs galore. That makes it fascinating to see what sort of recreation plan offensive coordinator Luke Getsy hatches this week with undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent making his second profession begin. How a lot will Getsy ask Bagent to do realizing the Chargers have ongoing points on protection?
Will the Bears have left sort out Braxton Jones again on Sunday? — Mike O., Owensboro, Ky.
It positive sounds just like the Bears will begin the 21-day window to judge Jones in apply with Wednesday’s first apply of the week. He has missed 5 video games on injured reserve with a neck subject. If they do begin the window, and I’d lean that method, chances are high first rate he’ll begin in opposition to the Chargers barring one thing surprising.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com