Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams sat out of the Hall of Fame Game last week. Now, he is set to make his highly-anticipated NFL debut against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday night.
The Bears are featured on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” this year as the hype around Chicago is certainly building. Bears general manager Ryan Poles has quickly rebuilt the franchise since arriving in 2022.
As Chicago looks to usher in a new era at quarterback, it’ll be interesting to see how the situation plays out behind Williams. Tyson Bagent, Brett Rypien, and Austin Reed are set to compete for the Bears during the preseason.
Can Tyson Bagent Hold On to the Backup QB Job in Chicago?
Bears head coach Matt Eberflus announced that all of Chicago’s available starters will play on Saturday night against the Bills. While Williams deservedly receives most of the attention, it remains to be seen how the competition at QB2 plays out during the preseason.
Following a successful run last season, Bagent, a second-year quarterback, is viewed as the favorite to back up Williams. Yet, Chicago’s initial depth chart revealed that Bagent is listed in the same tier as Brett Rypien at QB2.
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Bagent was the talk of the NFL in Week 7 last season when he led the Bears to a dominant victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. But Bagent’s short-lived tenure as starting quarterback didn’t end well after throwing five interceptions in his final three starts.
While Bagent’s dual-threat ability and fiery personality certainly give him an edge to win the backup QB job, he must perform during the preseason, especially given that the Bears view him and Rypien on the same level right now.
Getting To Know Brett Rypien
Rypien threw his name into the competition at QB2 thanks to a strong performance in the Hall of Fame Game.
After entering the game in relief of Bagent, Rypien was on fire. He completed 11 of his 15 passes for 166 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions.
After going undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft, Rypien has bounced around the NFL. Since entering the league, he has spent time with five different teams.
Rypien has started just four games, completing 58.3% of his passes for 950 yards, four touchdowns, and nine interceptions.
While Bagent seems to have an early lead on the QB2 spot, Rypien could make things interesting if he continues to play at a high level.
If his performance in the Hall of Fame Game was a preview of what’s to come, Bagent will need to step up as well.
Getting To Know Austin Reed
The Bears signed Austin Reed as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft. Reed spent time at three different colleges, although he developed into an ultra-efficient quarterback at Western Kentucky.
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During his two-year tenure at Western Kentucky, Reed threw 71 touchdowns and just 22 interceptions.
Pro Football Network’s Ian Cummings discussed Reed’s potential in his pre-draft scouting report of Chicago’s newest quarterback.
While it’ll be difficult for Reed to win the backup quarterback job over Bagent or Rypien, he could push for a spot on the team’s practice squad. Given the potential he showcased at Western Kentucky, Reed could develop into a long-term backup quarterback in Chicago.