Bears to Start Tyson Bagent at Quarterback for Week 5 Game vs. Packers

Unlike last week, when the Chicago Bears kept their starting quarterback a secret against the New York Jets, Ben Johnson offered immediate clarity on his starter heading into Week 5. 

The Bears' head coach confirmed that Tyson Bagent will start on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. 

"Tyson will be the guy," Johnson said to Jeff Joniak on ESPN1000. "We'll go from there, so we're in good shape."

Caleb Williams is still recovering from a Grade 2 hamstring injury. His status for Sunday's road game has not been announced at this point. 

On the first play of the game against the Jets, quarterbacks Case Keenum and Tyson Bagent were both on the field field. Bagent lined up out wide and Keenum was in the shotgun and pitched the ball to running back D'Andre Swift. 

Because of that alignment, Keenum was credited with the start, but that was Keenum's only snap of the game. 

"Well, I got all these memos saying that Tyson was starting before I ever made an announcement, so I wanted to get Case out there," Johnson said after the game. "It was like his ceremonial first pitch out there. Handing off the torch.

Before Sunday's game against the Jets, it had been 1,059 days since Bagent last started during his rookie year in 2023. He completed 25 of 34 passes for 268 yards and an interception in the 23-12 victory. 

Bagent admitted during his postgame press conference that the team knew "pretty early on in the week" that he would be the starter. The former undrafted player from Shepherd University shared how he found out about the news. 

While Bagent was getting treatment at his house on Wednesday morning, Keenum contacted him and asked when he would get to Halas Hall. When they both at the Bears' facility, Keenum told Bagent how appreciative he was of him throughout last week as the team prepared for the Eagles. 

"He's a top two friend, teammate that I've ever had, and he's definitely not two," Bagent said. "So, I can't say enough about Case Keenum and what he means to me, what he means to really my family. I love his family. He was very vital and helpful throughout the week. But his delivery, he was just telling me that he really hopes and prays that I'm able to have a night kind of like he did on Monday and that I will and that week is going to be this week because you're starting. So, he kind of hit me with that at the end and I just gave him a big hug. I told him how much he meant to me, and then just business is business going forward.”

The Bears' offense ran 89 plays and maintained time of possession for 42:45. Chicago also generated 34 first downs, outgaining the Jets' 32 total plays. 

Although the Bears  produced plenty of positives on offense, the team still finished 2 of 7 in the red zone and committed two turnovers. Bagent took complete ownership of his interception in the second quarter. 

“Yeah, 100% unacceptable on my end," Bagent said. "You have to continue to just be super clean, play in and play out. I had the crossing route to (TE Colston) Loveland, really just have to put it out in front of him, or if I don't like it find my check down. But thought that we had two turnovers today, have to be a lot cleaner in that department going forward. But yeah, 100% my fault on that, and have to be better going forward.”

Bagent will have a chance to fix his mistakes in the Week 5 matchup against the Packers at Lambeau Field. 

“Yeah, no matter who we play I am extremely appreciative of every rep," Bagent said after Sunday's game. "Every game ever given to me, nothing changes on my end. It is very cool to be able to play in the greatest rivalry in sports. So, I think for everybody, it's pretty easy to get excited and juiced up for that one, which I'm sure they will be too. So, we’ve got to go in there, away, loud environment and we’ve got to be crispy with communication in and out of the huddle, and continue to put our best foot forward, and have a good week of preparation.”