The Bears may have finished preseason football, but five guys just made damn sure their names aren’t fading into the background noise. What looked like a meaningless August tune-up turned into a full-blown showcase for underdogs, breakout rookies, and hungry veterans who took their shot and punched the narrative in the mouth. Down 27–10? Didn’t matter. Chicago stormed back, capped off by Tyson Bagent’s ice-cold game-winning drive. But he wasn’t the only one cooking.
From a 2nd year WR building chemistry with the franchise QB, to a DE flipping the script with a momentum-killing strip-sack, here are the five Bears who turned a preseason afterthought into a statement game.
1. Tyson Bagent, QB
Forget the drama — Bagent delivered. Entering the game as a backup and now locked down with a two-year, $10 million extension, he engineered a jaw-dropping, 87-yard game-winning drive with only three seconds left and no timeouts. Threw three fourth-quarter TDs, including the dagger to Jahdae Walker. This wasn’t a cameo — it was a demand to be heard. Bagent had himself a hell of a week and showed exactly why he deserved every damn dollar of that $10 million extension.
2. Rome Odunze, WR
Odunze shook off early grief to snag a 3-yard TD from Caleb Williams and haul in a critical 37-yarder that got the Bears into prime scoring territory. Three catches on five targets, leading the team in receiving yards among starters. Showed mental toughness, chemistry, and contested-catch promise — exactly what Rome and Caleb need heading into their second year. They were both top-10 picks, and it’s time they prove to the Bears that those picks were worth the investment.
3. Jahdae Walker, WR
Undrafted and electric, Walker ripped down a game-winning 6-yard TD with three seconds left, after opening the drive with a 15-yard sideline grab and a 16-yard pick-up. Three catches for 37 yards. It’s one thing to flash — he delivered in heavyweight fashion. Then he went and sealed the damn game with a tackle on the ensuing kickoff, showing he can be a difference-maker on special teams too — and that’s the lifeline for fringe roster guys. Walker’s made some nice plays all preseason, and it’s looking like this game might’ve just locked up his spot on the 53.
4. Daniel Hardy, DE
When you’re down 27–10, momentum feels like distant smoke — until Hardy stripped Chiefs QB Chris Oladokun for a turnover, flipped the narrative, and put the Bears back in driver's seat. Coaches noticed; this kind of play doesn’t get forgotten when final cuts hit. And let’s be real — this performance matters because the biggest question mark on this team is still the defensive line until proven otherwise. They need bodies who can produce, and Hardy did exactly that Friday night.
5. Royce Freeman, RB
Not exactly a flashy stat line, but a 2-yard TD catch from Bagent in the red zone during the comeback? That’s veteran savvy and reliability in one tidy package. What makes it even more impressive is that Freeman literally just joined the team this week due to the RB injury crisis. He had barely any time to get acclimated, yet still made plays in crunch time. Depth isn’t sexy — but scoring in high-leverage moments sure looks like it. Look, I still don’t think he makes the 53, but this kind of showing gives the coaches something to seriously chew on.
TL:DR — Who Earned Their Stars
| Player | Highlight Moment |
|---|---|
| Bagent | Three 4th‑quarter TDs, game-winning drive |
| Odunze | 37-yard catch + TD |
| Walker | Game-winning TD + clutch sideline catch |
| Hardy | Strip-sack turnover that sparked comeback |
| Freeman | Red-zone TD catch |
Final Verdict
Here’s what’s clear: Tyson Bagent just catapulted himself into the spotlight. That performance isn’t just hype — it’s a gauntlet thrown down to whoever’s ahead on the depth chart. Odunze’s resilience, Walker’s timing, Hardy’s reckless edge, and Freeman’s veteran touch — they all rewrote their preseason narratives. Yeah, it’s still preseason, so take all of this with a grain of salt. We’ll see who really shines once the cleats get laced up in September. But for now? These five did everything they needed to do to impress this coaching staff. Now it’s decisions time — those five just gave the coaches a heaping dose of roster ammo.
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