Studs and Duds from Bears’ preseason win over Bengals

On a rain-drenched Saturday afternoon, the Chicago Bears played a mostly clean game to beat the Cincinnati Bengals, 27-3, in Week 2’s preseason game. It’s the second straight preseason week in which the defense did not allow a touchdown.

The game started slowly for Caleb Williams and the offense, and after the first quarter, it looked like the Bears would be subject to doom-and-gloom analysis all week. However, Williams eventually found his groove and reminded everyone why he was the No. 1 overall pick.

For this week, I’m going to exclude the obvious studs like Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze. They’ve received plenty of well-deserved praise already, and their place on the depth chart is rock solid. Instead, I’ll focus on the backups and some guys who are fighting for a roster spot.

Stud: Tyson Bagent

If there was ever a battle for the backup quarterback spot, Bagent ended it on Saturday. The Shepherd University legend completed 7 of 8 pass attempts for 87 yards and two gorgeous touchdowns, good for a 151.6 passer rating.

An absolute DOT from Tyson Bagent

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— Barstool Chicago (@barstoolchicago) August 17, 2024

After going 2-2 as a starter last season as an undrafted rookie, Bagent has continued working on his craft and improving. If he keeps this up, he could one day be a starter for an NFL team.

Stud: Dante Pettis

While Pettis will never crack the starting receiver rotation in Chicago, he proved his worth on Saturday as a depth piece. He hauled in two touchdowns and a spectacular grab in the middle of the field for a big gain, all from Tyson Bagent’s right arm.

In a crowded receiver room, Pettis needed a day like Saturday to make his case for a roster spot.

Dud: Nate Davis

Oh boy, what was that? Davis had a game to forget on Saturday, as he gave up the team’s lone sack on Caleb Williams. Like a good leader, Williams took the blame for it, but Davis was soundly beaten by his man and was even spun around.

Since he is seemingly in full health now, Davis is likely to be the Week 1 starter at right guard, but if he doesn’t step his game up soon, a change in the lineup is inevitable.

Stud: Daniel Hardy

Arguably the biggest riser on the Bears’ preseason roster right now is Daniel Hardy. A 2022 seventh-round pick by the Rams, he racked up two quarterback hits, a big sack in which he showcased a beautiful spin move to beat his man, and one forced fumble that Chicago recovered.

Hardy is currently listed as a 3rd-stringer on the Bears’ unofficial depth chart, but don’t be surprised if he steals a roster spot from one of the veterans ahead of him.

Stud: Kyler Gordon

The only starter to receive a game ball today, Gordon’s performance was just too dominant to ignore. He made multiple open-field tackles to stop what could have been a big gain for the Bengals and also laid the wood on Bengals’ quarterback Logan Woodside on a blitz.

Kyler Gordon delivers the BOOM
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— PFF (@PFF) August 17, 2024

If these preseason games are any indication, the Bears’ defense might end up being a top-five unit.

Dud: Velus Jones Jr.

Like teammate Nate Davis, Jones’ roster spot is in peril this season, barring a stunning turnaround. A game like Saturday’s didn’t help, as he picked up just 13 yards on six carries. This experiment of playing him at running back always felt like a last-ditch effort to make a playmaker out of the 2022 third-round pick, but it feels like the experiment is already nearly over.

Honorable Mention

I feel compelled to mention rookie punter Tory Taylor once again. During Chicago’s atrocious offensive output in the first quarter, he proved why he was worth a fourth-round draft pick with some booming, field-flipping punts, racking up 150 yards on three punts.