Back-to-back punts weren’t what anyone on the Bears’ sideline wanted to see Sunday, but then Tyson Bagent got going, leading a 9:33 touchdown drive — the Bears haven’t had a drive that long in the regular season since Week 1 of 2021.
“The only un-fun part was the start we had,” Bagent said.
The second quarter was more fruitful for Bagent. He finished 13-of-19 for 103 yards with a fourth-down touchdown pass to Maurice Alexander, who high-pointed the ball in the back of the end zone and got both feet down.
Case Keenum took over after halftime and threw two touchdown passes, including a pretty anticipation throw that dropped into the arms of undrafted rookie Jahdae Walker.
“I really trust Jahdae in the short time I’ve gotten to know him,” Keenum said. “I thought he played really well today. He got a great release off the line, and I’ve just gotta give him a chance.”
Keenum, entering his 12th NFL season, was impressed with how Bagent managed a shaky start to the game.
“I really liked how he responded to not the start that we wanted, whether it was a high pass here or getting backed up or protection issue, whatever it was, there are a lot of things that go on in a football game,” Keenum said. “… He responded. He stayed the course. He wasn’t freaking out. He just stayed the course, and that was really good.”
It’s only preseason, of course, and the QBs’ success came against backups, but Bagent and Keenum’s performances still had to make Johnson feel at ease about the guys behind starter Caleb Williams.
