Bears Like Idea of Another Veteran QB

Bears coach Matt Eberflus loves what he has seen from rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent.

It's not going to keep the team from looking to add someone at the position with experience, talent or both off waivers if possible.

"Yeah, that's a good thought," Eberflus said Tuesday as the team was going through the process of cuts. "We certainly are looking at that option. We are looking at other options, too. But that's certainly a good thought. When you can have somebody with experience in there to help younger quarterbacks.

"It's certainly something we've talked about."

They cut P.J. Walker, who failed to live up to expectations but also to the competition being brought by both Bagent and Nathan Peterman. Bagent, in particular, caused excitement with one 17-play drive the Bears had against the Colts to a touchdown. He also directed another TD drive against Buffalo in the preseason finale.

Yet, Eberflus wouldn't say Bagent is his backup, third string or even practice squad as he waited for roster cutdowns to be announced.

"We certainly feel great about where he is," Eberflus said of Bagent. "He's put his best foot forward. And we're excited where we see him going in the future."

The Bears maintain Bagent did everything they could have asked. He's coming in as a Division II QB who was undrafted.

"It was an open competition, and it was created," Eberflus said. "It was created by the players. The players created that. Tyson really created that in practice and he did it and created it in the games.

"What we saw from him was execution, poise, accuracy and the ability to move the ball down the field. And again, he's put his best foot forward."

From the sound of what's ahead for Bagent, it would seem Eberflus is hopeful either Peterman or another waived veteran player might bridge the gap until Bagent has more experience in the league.

"I just would say he really needs to just improve and get better," Eberflus said of Bagent. "When you're a young player like that you have to improve and get better every single week.

He's going to learn as he goes through the process of how the game plan changes every week and that's probably a lot different than what he's used to."

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