Tyson Bagent Prepared for Bears Start
The Chicago Bears are leaning on Tyson Bagent as Caleb Williams manages a hamstring injury.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Football
Live Poll
Do you trust your local team's backup quarterback to secure a win when a starter is injured?
Tyson Bagent is expected to start for the Chicago Bears against the Eagles following a hamstring injury sustained by Caleb Williams. Bagent entered in relief during the loss against the Vikings, where the team failed to execute final play assignments.
Why it matters
The change at quarterback forces the Bears to rely on a reserve signal-caller to maintain offensive stability in a critical upcoming matchup. Head coach Ben Johnson emphasized that recent failures in situational execution must be addressed immediately to remain competitive.
Bagent posted a 3.38% sack percentage in 2023, while the team's offensive line allowed 50 total sacks that season. The Bears were positioned at the 12-yard line in the final 10 seconds of their most recent game.
The players
Tyson Bagent
He is the backup quarterback for the Chicago Bears who previously started games during the 2023 NFL season.
Caleb Williams
He is the starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears who is currently dealing with a hamstring injury.
Ben Johnson
He is the head coach of the Chicago Bears responsible for team play-calling and personnel decisions.
Will Turner
He is the defensive player who recorded a sack on the final play of the game against the Chicago Bears.
The details
Tyson Bagent steps back into a starting role after entering the Vikings game late following the injury to Caleb Williams. During a review on Monday, Ben Johnson noted the team struggled with specific play execution during the final three downs of that contest.
Timeline
Tyson Bagent made several starts and his NFL debut in 2023.
Bagent played in relief against the Vikings on Sunday.
Coach Ben Johnson reviewed the execution of the final three plays on Monday.
The Bears face the Eagles on Monday night.
Season Trajectory
This sudden shift at quarterback impacts the Bears' ability to maintain momentum in a highly competitive divisional race. The team must now adjust its offensive game plan to play to the specific strengths of their reserve signal-caller.
Bagent's ability to minimize sacks will be the primary metric for Chicago's offensive success against the Eagles. A limited practice schedule for Williams suggests the team will lean heavily on established camp routines for the upcoming Monday night start.
The takeaway
Maintaining offensive consistency with a backup quarterback requires strict adherence to assigned play executions. Teams that fail to protect their quarterback or execute situational calls often struggle to convert late-game field position into points.
Further reading
For more on the team's roster moves and upcoming schedule, visit Football.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sports Illustrated.
Live Poll
Do you trust your local team's backup quarterback to secure a win when a starter is injured?
