Usually, when Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams goes down on the turf, he always gets right up again. It's part of his Superman persona that he's embodied going into his third NFL season. But, for once, Superman didn't get back up again.
Williams suffered a hamstring injury in the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings, where he was in severe pain and had to be helped off the field and then carted back to the locker room. Backup quarterback Tyson Bagent, who signed a two-year, $10 million contract extension last summer, jumped in cold off the bench to attempt to lead Chicago to a comeback and help guide the team after their star quarterback went out.
Trailing 6-3 and facing second-and-goal from the 6-yard line, Bagent came into the game
and threw one completion and one incompletion before Cairo Santos' field goal attempt was blocked. After Minnesota extended their lead to 9-3, Bagent nearly led a comeback drive of his own, but Chicago fell just short as time expired. Bagent finished 5-of-9 for 54 yards and was sacked on the final play of the game.
After the game, defensive tackle Grady Jarrett shared his confidence in Bagent leading this team in Williams' absence.
“He's been here for a long time. Just being consistent, consistent, consistent. I don't think anybody flinched we knew he had an opportunity to go down and try to win the game. And like I said earlier, we were one play away from winning that game. We have full confidence in Tyson. We can see how he works every day, how he takes care of his craft. How he prepares each and every week. There's a reason why he was able to get an extension here. He does nothing but work to produce. However it goes, we love Tyson, and we believe in Tyson.”
While the Bears don't know the extent of Williams' hamstring injury, as further tests will come Monday, the expectation is that Bagent could be starting, at the very least, next Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles. Luckily, he has experience in this offense and the belief of his teammates until Williams is able to return.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Grady Jarrett on his confidence in Bears QB Tyson Bagent
