Why Bears Backup Quarterback May Require Reconsideration
![Tyson Bagent went 2-2 as a backup last year for the Bears but is rated one of the worst NFL backups by SI.com. Tyson Bagent went 2-2 as a backup last year for the Bears but is rated one of the worst NFL backups by SI.com.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_5733,h_3224,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/bear_digest/01hz3pja9e446c6m406n.jpg)
The issue of backup quarterback for the Bears gets overshadowed for a pair of reasons.
The first is starter Caleb Williams overshadows all else.
The second is it's assumed by most that Tyson Bagent is the backup because he played there last year for four starts and five games.
In actuality, there will be a real battle coming for this spot because Brett Rypien's experience in the NFL is a little greater than Bagent's and he has experience with this offense in two places from last season. Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron knows Rypien and not Bagent.
Also, Bagent's credentials coming out of college were as a record-setting, unsigned free agent, Division II quarterback, but undrafted rookie Austin Reed is on the Bears roster now and he led a Division II team to the national championship. Then he went on to stand out as a passer at Division I Western Kentucky. Bagent never played Division I football.
Regardless, the backup quarterback situation for the Bears looks shaky compared to many other teams because of the lack of experience.
I will now tweet about this exact play that keeps popping up when Iβm watching film, this time #WKU and Austin Reed run this play in Week 3 against Indiana and nearly score. https://t.co/EonTGqOGhy pic.twitter.com/0K8vEJIGkU
β Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) July 11, 2023
How shaky is it?
Sports Illustrated's Gilberto Manzano has done the website's annual ranking of backup quarterbacks and the Bears come up near the bottom with Tyson Bagent, although it's not difficult to make a case the ranking is too high.
RYAN POLES' APPROACH ALONG THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE DRAWS FIRE
ONE BOLD PREDICTION ABOUT CALEB WILLIAMS' ROOKIE TEAM SUCCESS
BEARS RATE PLAYOFF TEAM WITH BETTORS BUT NOT WITH THE EXPERTS
JETS GIVE FORMER BEARS RETURN MAN TARIK COHEN A COMEBACK SHOT
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β Jay Tust (@KTVBSportsGuy) May 3, 2024
Who spent more time in the film room while at #BoiseState?
Kellen Moore or Brett Rypien?
βThereβs no anybody better than those two.β
Cool to hear their @CoachHarsin talk about how their preparation habits made both QBs unique. pic.twitter.com/YMApdMhsdx
Bagent is ranked the 26th best backup quarterback out of 32.
"Bagent made a name for himself as an undrafted rookie last year, delivering an impressive win against the Raiders," Manzano writes.
Bagent also beat Carolina and was 2-2 in starts. His fumble on a sack for a TD return provided Minnesota with the decisive points in the game he relieved injured Justin Fields, and he lost to the Saints by throwing five interceptions.
Ryan Tannehill not going away as potential insurance for Lions behind Jared Goff https://t.co/6gqOJ5gNTH @SideLionReport
β Brad Berreman (@bradberreman24) May 28, 2024
In his five games played, Bagent completed an outstanding 65.7% (94 of 143) but they were for only 6 yards an attempt. He threw six interceptions to three TD passes for a 71.4 passer rating.
Manzano has him graded behind Detroit's Hendon Hooker (25th), who hasn't played in an NFL game. He is rated one spot ahead of Davis Mills, who was a starter one season in Houston.
Also graded behind Bagent is Green Bay's Sean Clifford (31st), Chargers backup Easton Stick (30th), Ravens backup Josh Johnson (29th) and Washington's Marcus Mariota (28th).
I am unreasonably excited to watch Tyson Bagent in Bears pre-season football. pic.twitter.com/ERh3dpv9Io
β Max Markham (@MaxMarkhamNFL) May 16, 2024
The ranking above Mariota seems a real stretch. Mariota has started 74 games, won 34 of them, and has a lifetime passer rating of 89.2. This is better than 10 veteran NFL starters.
When Jimmy Garaoppolo is a backup QB and ranked behind Josh Dobbs, who was an embarrassment against the Bears last year, there have to be questions about the ratings.
Ryan Tannehill is the last of the free agent quarterbacks still worth signing.
Considering the Bears have started the backup quarterback at least two games each of the last four seasons, haven't had a full season from a starter since 2009 and have averaged 3.8 starts a season from backups since that 2009 season, being more serious about who plays behind Caleb Williams might be something for Ryan Poles to consider. His backups have eight career starts and the starter none.
The Panthers newest analytics hire is on record saying he would rather have Tyson Bagent over Bryce Young if he needed to win a football game π pic.twitter.com/pEuUHkllel https://t.co/fU4c4PBQ8c
β karan (@905Kar) May 8, 2024
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