Chicago Bears Dealing With New Quarterback Injury

Chicago Bears backup quarterback Tyson Bagent suffered a hamstring injury during the team’s preseason opener against the Cleveland Browns and did not practice Tuesday, putting his availability for Saturday’s game in doubt.

Mark Carman of CHGO Bears reported the development.

“Tyson Bagent suffered a hamstring injury in the game against the Browns. He is not practicing today and his status for Saturday’s game is in doubt.”

Bagent started and played the entire first half of Saturday’s 34-10 victory over the Browns at Soldier Field. He completed 13 of 22 passes for 169 yards with one touchdown and one interception, posting a 79.5 passer rating.

The 26-year-old undrafted free agent from Division II Shepherd University led two scoring drives after an uneven start that included consecutive three-and-outs. His touchdown came on a 25-yard pass to wide receiver Maurice Alexander. He also connected with Kaden Davis for a 41-yard gain.

Bagent was critical of his own performance afterward.

“I think it’s nowhere close to my standards, especially how we started off,” he said. On the interception, which came after a sack late in the half, he added: “That is just me being extremely late, complete slappy move on my part. Gotta be better there.”

The hamstring issue did not surface publicly during or immediately after the game. Other players who did not finish included tight end Nikola Kalinic (right knee), safety Xavier Woods (groin) and linebackers Nephi Sewell (concussion) and Ruben Hyppolite II (shoulder).

Bagent’s absence from Tuesday’s practice at Halas Hall was noted by reporters on site. The Bears face the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday night in their second preseason contest, with the third and final exhibition set for the following week against the Tennessee Titans.

Starter Caleb Williams sat out the Browns game and is expected to see limited or no preseason action as the coaching staff prioritizes his readiness for the regular season. Case Keenum, a veteran addition to the quarterback room, played the second half against Cleveland and would likely handle more snaps if Bagent is sidelined.

Bagent has served as the primary backup to Williams since the former USC star was selected first overall in the 2024 draft. In 2023, as a rookie, Bagent started four games and went 2-2, completing 66 percent of his passes for 859 yards with three touchdowns and six interceptions while Justin Fields was injured.

Last August, the Bears signed Bagent to a two-year contract extension worth $10 million that runs through the 2027 season, with incentives that could increase the value. Coach Ben Johnson has repeatedly praised the quarterback’s work ethic, knowledge of the offense and leadership qualities.

“He does a tremendous job knowing what to do, how to do it and getting it done,” Johnson has said of Bagent. The coach has also pushed back strongly against any suggestion of trading the backup, emphasizing his value to the roster.

Bagent’s previous preseason passer ratings stood at 119.9 in 2024 and 106.6 in 2025, underscoring his reliability in exhibition play even if regular-season opportunities have been scarce. He has taken only a handful of snaps over the past two regular seasons.

The injury introduces uncertainty into the Bears’ quarterback depth chart at a stage when teams evaluate roster decisions ahead of final cuts. Hamstring strains can vary widely in severity, ranging from minor strains that sideline a player for a few days to more significant tears requiring extended recovery.

Bagent has built a reputation for toughness and preparation since arriving in Chicago. His college career at Shepherd featured record-setting production and multiple championships, qualities that translated quickly to the NFL practice field and meeting rooms.

With the regular season opener against the Carolina Panthers still nearly a month away, the Bears have time to assess Bagent’s recovery. Further updates are expected as the week progresses and practice participation is monitored closely.

The team has not issued an official injury report listing Bagent’s status as of Tuesday afternoon. Carman’s report provided the first public details tying the hamstring problem to the Browns contest.

For now, the focus remains on whether Bagent can return in time to gain additional preseason work or if Keenum and other options will shoulder more of the load in the coming exhibitions.