19 October 2023
The Chicago Bears figure to be without quarterback Justin Fields this weekend — and perhaps beyond — clearing the stage for undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent to make his first NFL start against the Las Vegas Raiders at Soldier Field.
The Bears held their usual Wednesday afternoon practice in Lake Forest and have optimism they can find a winning formula for Sunday’s game. Here are three things we learned Wednesday at Halas Hall.
1. Bagent is eager to take the next big test in his football career.
When the rookie quarterback was needed for emergency duty in the second half of last weekend’s 19-13 home loss to the Minnesota Vikings, he urged his coaches not to simplify the offense or change their mentality based on his inexperience.
“I just told them, ‘I know you guys have a lot of faith in me. But I want to let you know I know the whole call sheet so don’t be afraid to do your thing and call your plays. Don’t hinder the offense just because I’m going in there. Because I’ve prepared for this all week.’
The reaction from coach Matt Eberflus, coordinator Luke Getsy and quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko? “They were just like, ‘Yeah, we knew that,’ Bagent said. “They have full confidence in me. (We have) full confidence in each other, really.”
Bagent oversaw five possessions for the Bears on Sunday and completed 10 of his 14 passes for 83 yards. He aided a 77-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter but also committed two crucial turnovers, including a loss-sealing interception on a potential game-winning drive.
Now, though, Bagent will have a full week of practice repetitions with the starting offense to aid his preparation.
“It will be a little bit more comfortable with the amount of reps I’m going to receive this week,” Bagent said Wednesday after practice. “Now you’ve just got to stack the days this week so we can be as prepared as (possible) on Sunday.”
Intense and detailed preparation has been a catalyst of Bagent’s success with the 23-year-old quarterback explaining his infectious self-confidence is rooted in the way he readies himself to perform. That, Bagent said, is something he learned as he evolved through 53 career starts at Division II Shepherd University.
“You start to see guys who are really good who don’t make it because they don’t know where they’re going,” Bagent said. “So if you’re not the fastest guy here and you’re not the best athlete on the field, as long as you know what everybody’s doing, you’re usually going to operate a little bit better than guys who might be a little bit better than you physically. So I kind of learned that then.”
2. Cody Whitehair has taken ownership of his snapping issues and will accept whatever role the Bears have for him in Week 7.
Whitehair’s control issues with shotgun snaps have been problematic throughout the season and were particularly troublesome against the Vikings last weekend. The eighth-year veteran and former team captain hasn’t run from that inconsistency. “I obviously didn’t play well,” he said Wednesday. “And we all saw what the result was from what happened.”
Whitehair was removed in the third quarter of last weekend’s loss with Matt Eberflus explaining that snapping wasn’t the sole reason. Eberflus emphasized that Lucas Patrick could be better at helping settle Bagent down.
“This is adversity I have to face,” Whitehair said. “And I have to get over it and get better.”
Still, for Whitehair, who was a Week 1 starter as a rookie in 2016 and has made 113 starts on the Bears offensive line, the abrupt benching stung.
“There’s a point where you have to keep your poise,” Whitehair said. “So that’s what I did. I was there for my teammates. I’ve always been a team-first guy and that’s what I tried to do (Sunday). … I take a lot of pride in my work. Any time things aren’t going your way, you’ve got to dive in and dissect where you’re going wrong. That’s what I’m doing right now.”
Whitehair vowed to keep working on his snapping. But there’s a possibility he may also have to accept a reserve role this week as the Bears again reshuffle their offensive line.
It would not be a surprise if Patrick started at center, which would leave the Bears to decide between Whitehair and Ja’Tyre Carter as their starter at right guard with Nate Davis sidelined through at least the end of the month with a high right ankle sprain.
“I prepare every week like I’m a starter,” Whitehair said. “So whatever my role is going to be, I’ll be ready.”
3. Eddie Jackson remains limited by the foot injury he suffered last month.
Jackson missed three games after hurting his right foot in Week 2 in Tampa. Then, upon returning to a starting role Sunday against the Vikings, the veteran safety lasted only 14 snaps before coming out with discomfort in the foot.
“It just flared up on him,” Eberflus said.
Jackson was a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice. The Bears will continue to monitor both his practice activity and how his foot responds as he pushes to take on a fuller workload in the weeks ahead.
Jackson missed the final five contests of last season with an injury to his Lisfranc ligament in the same foot.
In other injury news, rookie running back Roschon Johnson remains in concussion protocol after leaving the Bears’ Oct. 5 win over the Washington Commanders with a head injury. Johnson was one of four Bears players who didn’t practice at all Wednesday. The others were Fields, Davis and cornerback Terell Smith (mononucleosis).
In addition to Jackson, four other Bears were limited including offensive tackle Darnell Wright (shoulder), defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (back), running back Travis Homer (hamstring) and offensive lineman Dan Feeney (knee).
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