The Chicago Bears finished their second preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts. Even though most of the starters didn't participate, there were still important things to learn from this game. So, here are the players who I believe improved their stock and those who might be trending in the wrong direction.
Risers:
QB, Tyson Bagent: There's now a competition for the QB2 spot. Bagent led a fantastic 17-play drive and capped it off with a run for a touchdown. He threw with percision, completing 9 out of 10 passes for 76 yards, resulting in a rating of 98.3. He also carried the ball twice, gaining 4 yards and a touchdown. His performance was outstanding, making him a real threat to replace PJ Walker as the backup quarterback behind Justin Fields. Bagent ranks fourth among quarterbacks in the preseason with a grade of 91.5 from PFF. If not for P.J. Walker's $2 million guaranteed contract, the decision would likely be straightforward. Although the Walker signing made sense at the time, it's clear that Bagent is currently out-performing the veteran.
RB, Roschon Johnson: As I said about Tyson earlier, rookie RB Roschon Johnson is also attracting a lot of praise during the preseason. Even though he only played for a short time (15 snaps), he rushed 7 times for 32 yards (averaging 4.6 yards per carry) and caught one pass for 11 yards. Johnson has 75 yards after contact. 4th most in the preseason. He also has 6 forced missed tackles. 2nd most in the preseason. The competition for RB2 is heating up, and it wouldn't be surprising to see Johnson backing Herbert in the first game of the season.
DT, Zacch Pickens: The rookie is having a strong preseason. He made 3 tackles vs the Colts, 1 solo, and 1 was a TFL. He did all this in just 25 snaps. I can't wait to see what he looks like mid-way through the season.
DE, Terrell Lewis: The 24-year-old reps the number 52. Ironically, his play has somewhat resembled former Bear Khalil Mack. In the first two preseason games, he's recorded 3 sacks and caused two fumbles. The Bears depth chart for 2023 was released a few weeks ago, and Lewis was at the very end. His teammates Noah Sewell, Mykal Walker, and Tremaine Edmunds were all listed before him. He won't surpass Edmunds, but he's definitely catching up on Sewell and Walker.
P, Trenton Gill: You think I was going to leave the punt god himself off this list? No way. Gill had another impressive outing. He had 4 punts traveling a total of 182 yards (45.5 avg). His longest being 51 yards. I said it before, but I will say it again: The Bears have their franchise punter. Feels so good.
Honorable Mentions:
WR, Daurice Fountain
LB, Micah Baskerville
Fallers:
CB, Tyrique Stevenson: Even though the rookie has been improving, his performance against the Colts will likely be a talking point this week from his coaches. Towards the end of the first quarter, Stevenson's physicality led him to making a mistake. He tried to finish a tackle on Colts RB Kenyan Drake but he didn't realize he was so close to the boundary line. As a result, he was penalized for a late hit. This kind of penalty can be a killer late in the game, potentially keeping a drive alive for the other team. Stevenson also had a chance to make up for this when he had the opportunity to make a play on the ball in the endzone. The ball from Gardner Minshew went right through his hands. It wasn't a great game for the Stevenson, but considering how he's been performing during training camp, he will learn from this and continue to improve.
QB, P.J. Walker: I'm not sure if anyone's stock has dropped as much as Walker's. He struggled during training camp, and this has translated into the preseason. In the recent game against Indy, Walker completed only 1 of 4 passes for 6 yards. He got sacked twice, and his quarterback rating was 36.6. Not good at all. It's time for Matt Eberflus to make the tough decision. Bagent has earned a shot at the QB2 spot.
If you want the full breakdown and recap of the Bears vs Colts preseason game, check out the latest episode of the BFR Podcast on YouTube. We have a special guest, James Boyd, who reports on the Colts for The Athletic. He'll be sharing his honest thoughts and analysis of Justin Fields during their joint practices together last week. This episode is something you won't want to miss!
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