Matt Eberflus Just Left The Door Wide Open For Tyson Bagent
One of the things Matt Eberflus made clear when he became the head coach for the Chicago Bears is that everybody on the roster held the same status when training camp began. Competition would form the bedrock of his team. That meant if you wanted a starting job or a spot on the main roster, go out there and earn it. That is how you see a 5th round rookie in Braxton Jones win the left tackle job last year. The worst thing you can be as a head coach is close-minded. That can prevent you from making decisions that are best for the team.
One such decision is playing out before his eyes. Eberflus likely didn’t expect any controversy at quarterback this off-season. Justin Fields is the starter and that hasn’t changed. The unexpected development is behind him. P.J. Walker was penciled in as the backup after signing a two-year, $4 million contract with Chicago. However, he hasn’t done himself many favors this month. Not only has he looked erratic in camp, but he’s done the same through two preseason games, going 5-of-12 for 25 yards and an interception.
Meanwhile, rookie Tyson Bagent has been steadily building a case for himself.
The star from Division II Shepherd created some interesting buzz during the pre-draft process, first catching the attention of teams at the Senior Bowl. Chicago saw enough to make a strong push to sign him as an undrafted free agent. That decision looks smart through two preseason games, as Bagent has gone 13-of-15 for 113 yards and a rushing touchdown. His 92-yard drive for a score in Indianapolis was easily one of the best of the preseason by any QB. People were left wondering if Eberflus would consider giving Bagent a serious chance to unseat Walker as the backup. They got their answer after the game.
“I would just say everything is open right now, and it’s not just that position, it’s every position. If the guy is in a competition, everybody can look at the roster and see who’s in a competition. Those are all going to be open. I think if you close your mind off to that, you might be missing on something. You’ve got to let it play itself out, is what we say as coaches. Don’t predetermine things, let things play out, and that’s the way you do it as a coach, and you’ll find that that’s usually the best decision.”
Matt Eberflus recognizes the importance of an open mind.
Yes, the Bears paid Walker a lot of money to be the backup. Yes, Bagent is an undrafted rookie. That cannot matter in this situation. Eberflus’ responsibility is to do what is best for the Bears. Right now, Bagent has flat outplayed Walker. He’s been more accurate. He’s made better decisions. The irony is he looks like the veteran while Walker looks like the rookie. That should tell you everything you need to know. Chicago made it clear they’re testing Bagent when they put him into the Colts game ahead of Nathan Peterman.
His drive for that touchdown was all the evidence they could’ve hoped for. This guy can play. It is impossible to know what his ceiling is. One thing is clear. Matt Eberflus can’t afford to risk trying to sneak Bagent onto the practice squad. Other NFL teams aren’t dumb. They’ll have seen the same qualities everybody else has. If you’re not interested in carrying three quarterbacks on the main roster, it’s time to make the tough decision. If it is about competition, the Bears should put Bagent as their primary backup and not look back.