4 Takeaways from Bears’ Week 2 preseason loss to Colts

The Chicago Bears dropped to 1-1 in the 2023 NFL preseason Saturday night after losing to the Indianapolis Colts 24-17.

The outcome of preseason games is rarely meaningful. This was especially true for the Bears in Week 2 of their summer schedule. Several critical starters were in street clothes against the Colts, including quarterback Justin Fields, running back Khalil Herbert, all of the top wide receivers, and almost the entire starting secondary, to name a few.

Putting the final score aside, there were a few relevant takeaways Bears fans can draw from the Week 2 preseason game. Here are the four biggest.

Tyson Bagent warrants QB2 consideration

Welcome to the backup quarterback conversation, Tyson Bagent.

The undrafted rookie from Shepherd had his best showing of the preseason, completing 9-of-10 passes for 79 yards and a short touchdown run. Bagent flashed impressive accuracy and pocket presence, he looked like anything but a rookie.

Some quarterback traits are hard to teach. Sometimes, they’re impossible. Elite accuracy is one of them, and while I won’t go as far as to say Bagent was elite in that department, he was pretty close. He zipped several pinpoint passes into tight coverage, and he made it look easy.

We’re at the point in the preseason where draft pedigree doesn’t matter anymore. The final 53-man roster will sort itself out on the practice field and in exhibition games. At this point, Bagent has been the best quarterback not named Justin Fields on the Chicago Bears’ roster.

He’s making this team.

PJ Walker, meanwhile, completed just one of four passes for six yards. He looked more like the undrafted rookie with a mountain to climb to make the team than Bagent did.

I never thought I’d say this after two preseason games, but Tyson Bagent is the Bears’ best option to be QB2 right now.

Roschon Johnson runs angry

Roschon Johnson kickstarted his Chicago Bears career with a powerful 24-yard run against the Tennessee Titans in Week 1 of the preseason. On Saturday, Johnson was at it again, slashing the Colts defense for chunk gains in a no-nonsense, foot-in-the-dirt style.

Johnson is a mean runner. He makes sure that would-be tacklers know they’re in for a fight. And that style of play will appeal to an old-school coach like Matt Eberflus and can earn Johnson first-team reps early in the 2023 season.

Johnson finished with seven carries for 46 yards and one catch for 11 yards. He was significantly better than D’Onta Foreman, who has yet to make his mark this summer.

Gervon Dexter’s upside is incredibly high

Gervon Dexter was credited with only one tackle Saturday night, but it was hard not to notice his big body flashing into the backfield early in the game. He must become a better finisher when he has a chance to make a splash play, but the fact he was disruptive against the Colts is an encouraging sign for the Bears’ second-round pick.

Dexter is lining up primary as a three-tech, and it’s scary to think how good he can be if he continues to develop over the next several months.

Tyrique Stevenson needs to stay under control

Tyrique Stevenson can be the Chicago Bears’ most valuable rookie in 2023. He’s an intense and physical cover cornerback whose football intelligence consistently puts him in a position to make a play.

We’re seeing early, however, that Stevenson’s intensity and passion can lead to penalties and missed opportunities. He should’ve intercepted Gardner Minshew’s second-quarter touchdown pass, it went through his hands and can be attributed to a concentration blunder.

Stevenson will start for the Bears in Week 1 and be a key to the secondary’s success. No rookie can be perfect, but if Stevenson can minimize his mistakes, he’ll be a force.