Caleb Williams and the majority of Chicago Bears starters won’t play in Thursday’s preseason finale against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid also said earlier this week that he would rest his starters, including quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
That means the teams’ final tuneup before the regular season will center on the players down the depth chart who are trying to solidify their positions with their current teams or audition for other organizations.
Here are four things to watch.
1. Quarterback depth
One of the notable behind-the-scenes looks in “Hard Knocks” this week was when former NFL quarterback Matt Ryan visited his friend, general manager Ryan Poles, at Halas Hall.
Ryan complimented quarterback Tyson Bagent for his progress from last season, saying “you can’t put a price on” what Bagent provides for the Bears as the young backup to Caleb Williams.
“It feels great,” Bagent said Wednesday of Ryan’s comments. “A lot of respect obviously for Matt Ryan. MVP, quarterback, stud. It feels good to know that all the work I’ve been putting in is being noticed by somebody at that caliber.”
In preseason action, Bagent has completed 14 of 19 passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns — both to wide receiver Dante Pettis on Saturday against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Bagent should have another chance to show his progress early Thursday before taking the back-seat role to Williams this season.
Bagent added that his goal is to show “I am one of those guys that can play the game at a high level.”
“That’s kind of the only thing I hope every time I’m out there is that everybody can see that I have full control of everything going on, I know where my answers are,” Bagent said. “I can just play at that kind of level.”
Fellow backup QBs Brett Rypien and Austin Reed should get a lot of work as well.
2. Final auditions
Rypien, the 28-year-old whom the Bears signed to be the veteran in the QBs room, said he always has a little nervous energy before games. It’s natural for a former undrafted player who gets limited game opportunities each year to prove his roster worth.
“Especially when you’re in a position like mine where every single year you’re fighting and grinding for a roster spot, sure you have nervous excitement before games,” Rypien said. “But once you get out there and get into the rhythm of it, I think that it just becomes second nature, and that’s why you have a process. You’re not really focused on the result when you get out there, you just try to go through, ‘OK, what’s my job on each individual play?’ And when you’re able to do that you get into a flow and you’re not thinking about anything.”
Poles and Eberflus must trim their roster to 53 players by Tuesday, so plenty of players will bring that nervous excitement to the field in Kansas City as they try to make one last good impression on the Bears — or other teams looking to scoop up talent. That includes Rypien, whom the Bears could keep on their 53 or try to get through to the practice squad, and Reed.
The roster spot of running back/wide receiver/kickoff returner Velus Jones Jr. has been a popular topic of debate this training camp. So has the opening at punt returner with DeAndre Carter, Dante Pettis and Josh Blackwell all receiving reps. Blackwell’s roster spot should be secure as a backup cornerback/nickel and special teams ace. Pettis sat out practice Wednesday with an undisclosed injury. Could Carter show up with a big performance? Will Jones show anything special in his new role?
3. Another pass rush review
Until the Bears sign or trade for another edge rusher, there are opportunities to be seized.
Starters Montez Sweat and DeMarcus Walker are likely to sit out Thursday, but the game should provide another look at backups such as rookie Austin Booker, 2022 fifth-round pick Dominique Robinson and Daniel Hardy, a third-year player who was on the Bears practice squad last season.
Booker, the Bears’ fifth-round pick, didn’t have as many splashy plays Saturday against the Bengals as he did a week earlier, so he’ll look to flash again. Defensive coordinator Eric Washington spoke highly of what he has seen thus far from Hardy, who has 3½ sacks and five tackles for a loss in three games.
“(Hardy’s production) has really stood out as far as what we’re asking that position to do, especially from a rush standpoint,” Washington said. “He’s been extremely active. The energy has been high. He’s gotten quality wins in critical situations, and his effort has been phenomenal. Everything we (do) from an evaluation standpoint starts with hustle. And I don’t know anybody that has stood out as much as he has.”
Depth at defensive tackle might be worth watching too as key backup DT Zacch Pickens missed practices this week.
4. Any starters?
Eberflus left open the possibility that a starter or two could make an appearance if they haven’t received many preseason reps.
Safety Jaquan Brisker hasn’t played in the preseason while recovering from an injury. Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, nickel Kyler Gordon and right guard Nate Davis played only against the Bengals. So perhaps the Bears would consider giving them time, though none of them practiced with the second-teamers in a split practice Wednesday.
Running back Roschon Johnson, while not a starter, missed the last two games with an injury and could be a notable player to make an appearance.
