Should Bears carry 3 QBs on 53-man roster?

The Chicago Bears are entering training camp with a clear top two at quarterback. No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams is already a face-of-the-franchise talent. Second-year undrafted free agent Tyson Bagent projects as a long-term backup quarterback after surpassing expectations last season.

Despite keeping just two QBs on the initial 53-man roster last year, the Bears acquired two additional quarterbacks this offseason after drafting Williams. Firstly, they signed veteran signal caller Brett Rypien to a one-year contract. Rypien spent last season alongside new Bears offensive coordinator Shane Waldron with the Seattle Seahawks.

That familiarity likely led to Bears general manager Ryan Poles viewing Rypien as an ideal candidate to add competition to the quarterback position. It’s worth acknowledging that Waldron and the Seahawks only kept two QBs on their first 53-man roster. Rypien’s familiarity with Waldron’s scheme should help Williams get quickly acclimated with the new offense.

The Bears also signed former Western Kentucky quarterback Austin Reed in undrafted free agency. Reed was prolific for the Hilltoppers, throwing for 8.068 yards and 71 touchdowns across two campaigns (he previously played at Southern Illinois and West Florida). The Saint Augustine native has two 4,000-yard seasons under his belt, and will likely receive plenty of reps throughout the preseason.

The Bears are signing Western Kentucky QB Austin Reed as an UDFA. He had over 15K passing yards in his career. Threw for at least 31 TDs in each of his 4 years as a starter. QB Controversy? pic.twitter.com/yfHY2DtiBj

— Chicago Football Connection (@CFCBears) April 27, 2024

An increased number of franchises are rostering three quarterbacks after an amendment to the rules came into effect last season. The rule permits each club to dress a 49th player as an emergency third quarterback. That quarterback must appear on the 53-man roster, and cannot be elevated from the practice squad. The benefit is that the player doesn’t have to be designated as active on the 48-player gameday list.

It’s worth acknowledging the Bears and Seahawks (Waldron’s old stomping grounds) kept two quarterbacks on their initial 53-man rosters despite the rule. Rypien and Reed will attempt to convince the Bears they’re worth rostering in a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency situation. With a strong top two of Williams and Bagent present, it’s likelier that both Rypien and Reed land on the Bears’ practice squad.

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