The Chicago Bears tied the Miami Dolphins 24–24 in their preseason opener on August 10, 2025. But don’t let the score fool you — this wasn’t a feel-good “we hung with a playoff team” kind of tie. This was one of those games where you walk away with more questions than answers.
Sure, some guys made plays. But today isn’t about them. This is about the five players (or in one case, a whole position group) who torched their stock faster than Soldier Field torches grass in December.
1. Tyson Bagent (QB)
Stat line: 13/19, 103 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
If you’re one of the dwindling few who still thought Tyson Bagent might be a solid, dependable backup for Caleb Williams, Saturday’s game was your bucket of cold reality.
The box score looks fine. Hell, if you didn’t watch, you’d probably think, “Eh, not bad for a preseason QB.” But the actual tape? Oof. This was like reading a good movie review and then walking into the theater only to realize it’s a two-hour remake of Cats.
Bagent opened the game with the kind of energy that makes offensive coordinators slam their clipboards — sailing a ball over Luther Burden III’s head on a simple conversion, then nearly gifting Miami an interception. By the end of the first quarter, the Bears had racked up exactly zero first downs under his command. Two straight three-and-outs to kick things off. That’s not rust, that’s corrosion.
And the decision-making… lord. Missing a wide-open Burden in the end zone to check it down for nothing is the kind of play that gets you the “game manager” label, but not in a good way. More like the “managing to kill drives” kind.
The lowlight? A deflected interception in the two-minute drill. Yes, the ball got tipped, but it was on him for forcing it into coverage. That’s the kind of mistake you can’t afford from a No. 2 QB — especially in a year where Caleb Williams will already be under a microscope.
Bagent didn’t just struggle; he made it painfully obvious why analysts rank him as one of the league’s worst backups. If Caleb misses time, the Bears’ season would be over before the emergency kicker even found his helmet.
2. Braxton Jones (LT)
If this was Jones’ audition to lock down Caleb Williams’ blind side for another year, he flubbed his lines and tripped over the stage lights.
On a critical fourth-and-goal during the Bears’ touchdown drive, Jones whiffed on his block so badly you’d think he was allergic to contact. Bagent somehow bailed him out with a quick throw, but it was the kind of play that makes coaches grind their teeth.
The Dolphins weren’t even throwing their A-team at him — Jones was getting worked over by backups and rotational guys. Poor hand placement, slow feet, and a tendency to lunge instead of setting a base.
Here’s the problem: he’s not just competing against the defense. He’s competing against Ozzy Trapilo, who’s been turning heads in camp and, according to reports, looked steadier in his snaps. Jones is in his fourth year. This is the point where you should be peaking, not regressing. Instead, he looked like a guy hoping to coast on past starts.
Protecting a rookie QB is one of the highest-leverage jobs in football. On Saturday, Jones looked like he needed protection from his own blocking assignments.
3. JP Richardson (WR)
You know the preseason rule for bubble players — make them remember your name. Richardson’s problem? He made it way too easy to forget.
One seven-yard punt return. Zero meaningful contributions on offense. His routes were uninspired, and when he did get snaps, he failed to separate. That’s fatal when guys like Jahdae Walker (41 yards, 1 TD) and Luther Burden III (29 yards) are flashing every time they’re targeted.
For an undrafted player, every snap is a résumé entry. You don’t get many shots to prove you belong. Richardson’s performance felt more like a “thanks for coming in, we’ll keep your application on file.”
If you’re fighting for the WR6 spot or a special teams role, you have to either pop on tape or dominate your assignment. He did neither. The fact that his only stat line highlight was a punt return that wouldn’t even make a USFL reel is… not promising.
4. Interior Offensive Line — Luke Newman / Ryan Bates / Chris Glazer
Calling this group a “loser” feels almost generous. This was a five-alarm dumpster fire in the middle of Soldier Field.
Luke Newman looked lost from the first snap. Multiple plays where he got “blown up” — as in, shoved back into the quarterback’s lap before Bagent even set his feet. He left with a concussion, which is unfortunate, but the reality is his technique was putting him in danger all night.
Ryan Bates wasn’t much better, failing to anchor and getting caught flat-footed on stunts. Chris Glazer? Looked like a camp body trying to survive. The trio’s lack of cohesion meant Miami’s backups were living in the backfield.
This is where it gets scary: the Bears’ O-line depth has been an issue for years. These guys aren’t just playing for roster spots — they’re auditioning for roles where they might be one rolled ankle away from starting. If this game is the sample, Caleb Williams better start practicing his spin moves.
5. Major Burns (Safety)
Burns had the kind of night that makes you want to delete the game film.
Missed a tackle he should’ve made in his sleep — perfect angle, help coming, and somehow the runner still got away. That’s bad enough in a regular game; in the preseason, when your job is literally to show you can execute fundamentals, it’s a nightmare.
Then came the injury. Burns left with a knee issue and didn’t return. In a bubble battle for safety depth, the worst combo is bad tape followed by being unavailable.
The Bears have been hunting for reliable safety depth behind their starters. Burns had a golden chance to stake his claim and instead handed the coaches a reason to move on.
Final Verdict
The Bears didn’t lose this game on the scoreboard, but several players lost ground in the fight for roster spots, starting jobs, or even NFL futures. Preseason can be forgiving — there’s room to bounce back. But for these five, the hole just got a lot deeper.
