After leading the Chicago Bears to a 30-12 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders in his starting debut, quarterback Tyson Bagent made reporters chuckle on Sunday.
The Bears kept to their short game, and the former Division II player hadn’t completed a pass longer than 17 yards, but he claimed to have an arm like a “cannon.”
In his first road start against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night, it appears the Bears may allow him to demonstrate his arm strength.
Speaking on Wednesday at Halas Hall, Bagent remarked, “Yeah, I mean I think I have a strong arm.” “I’m sure I can make any call that’s made. That’s most likely all there is to it.
Bagent starts again because of Justin Fields’ dislocated thumb, after going 21 for 29 for 162 yards and a touchdown in the win.
Upon film review, NFL NextGen Stats said he averaged 2.1 air yards on his completions. But Bagent and coach Matt Eberflus expect their offense to be challenged more on short passes this week, so there may be a need to go up top.
“We’re always going to look to stretch vertically and horizontally in the passing game,” Eberflus said. “That’s always something that we look at.
“Really, you look at the defense that you’re playing. If they give you those opportunities vertically, you’re going to take those.”
Like his arm, Bagent’s story as an undrafted passer from Shepherd University is about to get a great deal of national attention because of the prime-time game with the Chargers.
Nothing seems to faze him.
“He’s been the same guy,” Eberflus said. “He’s the same guy as he was last week. He’s prepared, he’s focused, he’s got that determined look in his eye.”
Bagent doesn’t believe his head will be turned by all the fame.
After two straight losses, the Chargers defense will not be so impressed, and Bagent realizes the difficult assignment ahead facing former Bears edge rusher Khalil Mack and teammate Joey Bosa.
The Chargers had seven sacks for 50 yards in losses of another rookie, Las Vegas’ Aidan O’Connell, earlier this season.
“Yeah, that’s why the NFL is so hard,” Bagent said. “You’ve got to know when to eat the play. You’ve got to know when to take advantage of the play. You’ve got to know when to escape and you’ve got to know when to just throw it away or take a sack.”
Bagent relieved the injured Fields in the Bears’ 19-13 loss to the Vikings in Week 6 and turned the ball over twice in the second half.
Bears wide receiver DJ Moore said neither of those mistakes, nor the first start or even national attention this week are likely to affect the rookie’s focus.
“He didn’t care if it was a Monday night game, Tuesday night game, whatever day of the week it is, he was going to go out and execute the best that he could,” Moore said.
As for being able to execute a more demanding game plan this time, Bagent is confident there, too.
“I said it before, I don’t really drop myself in any category of being a pocket passer, dual threat,” he said. “I just like to make plays for the team, and once again, whatever I’m asked to do from the coaches is what we’ll get done and what will happen.
“So I don’t want to put any limits anywhere.”
NOTES: After starting six different lineups in seven games, the Bears offensive line position looks to be in turmoil once more. Darnell Wright, a right tackle, attempted to play with a shoulder ailment last week, but on Wednesday he was unable to report for practice. Additionally, Braxton Jones, a left tackle, has been sidelined since Week 2, but on Wednesday, he was granted permission to return from injured reserve for a 21-day period. .. Security Eddie Jackson, who missed the game last week due to a foot issue, participated in a restricted practice.
