(Audacy) Bears top receiver DJ Moore doesn’t sound concerned about the possibility of rookie Tyson Bagent serving as the team's starting quarterback.
Bagent, who joined the Bears as an undrafted free agent in the spring, got his first taste of NFL action Sunday when he replaced injured starting quarterback Justin Fields in the third quarter. While he had a couple key mistakes, the 23-year-old Bagent made plays in his debut, completing 10 of 14 passes for 83 yards and rushing for a touchdown. Bagent also coughed up a fumble that the Vikings returned for a touchdown and threw a late interception while under duress that sealed the game.
Bagent's performance had the hiccups you'd expect from an undrafted rookie who was abruptly thrust into game action, but he also showed confidence, as Moore told the Mully & Haugh Show. And with Fields’ availability uncertain due to his right hand injury, Bagent could be the Bears' starter next Sunday against the Raiders.
If that’s the case, Moore is confident Bagent will be up to the task.
“(I’ll) just try to build a connection fast throughout the week," Moore said. "Starting on Wednesday with just catching everything, being open as fast as I can for him go through his reads. From there, just be in his ear, ask him questions, how he sees things and where to be at. That’s the most important thing.
“I’m very confident (in Bagent). What he showed through the preseason, through camp, even this past game — he showed he’s got that dog in him and he’s going to try to fight to win every game.”
Bagent was a four-year starter at Division-II Shepherd University. He began the season behind veteran Nathan Peterman on the depth chart but became the Bears' second-string quarterback in Week 4.