LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) — In his first NFL start, rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent led the Bears to victory Sunday not by lighting up the scoreboard or by dominating in the box score. He managed the game, played turnover-free and guided his team to a win.
That's what stood out to Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy in the aftermath of the victory led by Bagent, who was 21-of-29 for 162 yards and a touchdown in a 30-12 win over the Raiders at Soldier Field.
“Just the fact that we were able to go out there and operate clean,” Getsy said of what impressed him. “He went out and kept his poise like we expected him to do. He did a really nice job of handling — it's not just the pass game, it's the run game that we put a lot on our quarterbacks to do a lot. He obviously went out there and showed he was able to do that.”
An undrafted rookie out of Division-II Shepherd University, Bagent stepped in as the Bears’ quarterback after Justin Fields suffered a dislocated right thumb in the Bears' loss to the Vikings on Oct. 15. Bagent went 10-of-14 for 83 yards, one touchdown run and one interception during his NFL debut that day.
In his first start Sunday, Bagent helped the Bears control time of possession and the game. He paced an offense that was led by running back D’Onta Foreman, who had two touchdown runs and a touchdown reception.
“I don’t think it was a surprise to anybody in this locker room or this building,” Foreman said of Bagent's performance. “I think the way he carries himself, the way he handles and goes about it, like I said before, is a part of who he is. I’m looking forward to another week to see if he can build on that.”
Fields isn't expected to play when the Bears (2-5) visit the Chargers (2-4) on Sunday night at SoFi Stadium. That means Bagent is set to make his second NFL start in a primetime game.
Bagent's journey to the NFL is an unlikely story, but the Bears believe in what he brings them.
“Credit to Tyson for his work ethic, his determination today that he got here,” Getsy said. “He had a purpose to make sure that he was ready for whenever or if an opportunity ever came around. So, all the credit to him.”
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.