Tyson Bagent's Inexperience Can Be a Factor

The Tyson Bagent express rolled on at Halas Hall Wednesday and no one really wants it to stop.

However, Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy wanted everyone to be realistic about chances their undrafted rookie quarterback from Division II Shepherd can win a three-way battle over P.J. Walker and Nathan Peterman for backup to Justin Fields.

"I mean everybody has a shot," Getsy said. "All three guys have done a really nice job through training camp. I think you (media) guys have seen, like most of the guys in our training camp, there's been good days and bad days for everybody and those three specifically. So we're taking all that in."

Bagent had one scoring drive Saturday against the Colts, a 17-play march in which he exhibited great calm and ability to go through his progression before shredding the pass defense.

"I know he had a great drive and that's exciting for people, but that's one drive," Getsy said. "We're going to make that part of the evaluation, but we're going to take the whole training camp evaluation before we make a decision like that."

Experience counts for something, Getsy reminded.

"I don't think there's any way you can ignore someone's past and not value what's going on in the present as well, because experience is something that you can't—there's no substitute for that. All of that's really important.

"But I think in the end, what's most important, is that you're playing at your best when your best is needed. Right now we're in this phase of training camp and we're evaluating this probably the most but we'll always lean and reflect on a guy's past as well, experience or lack thereof."

Walker has started seven NFL games and won four of them. He has 13 total games played. Peterman is 1-4 in five starts and played in 15 games.

"I think for any position, whether we're going with a starter for any position as compared to, not just quarterbacks, but experience is always important," Getsy added. "Those guys can reflect on previous experiences and when you're in the game, and so much of our game is situational football.

"So being able to have those experiences and be able to react in a certain way is very valuable. When you get into that discussion that you're getting into, by no means do we have one way or the other set in stone. We still have three more weeks to go before we're in that 'who's the backup and who's not the backup.' "

Actually, they have a lot less time than three weeks. Roster cut deadline is Aug. 29 at 3 p.m. If the Bears were to cut Bagent and try to bring him back to the practice squad the next day, they could be taking a chance someone would claim him.

It is all leading to some spirited play in practice. Peterman completed one deep out pass in Wednesday's indoor practice and was pumping his fist like he was playing in the regular season.

Peterman actually put up more points in the preseason loss to the Colts than Bagent, and had staked the Bears to a 17-7 lead. Walker, meanwhile, is the player brought in to be backup and he has had two sub-par preseason efforts.

The D-II QB from the Shepherd Rams has generated more excitement in Chicago than some starters have over the years.

"I'm really impressed with him," Bears wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown said. "When he's in the huddle, he's clear and articulate with the play calls.

"He seems real calm when he's in the pocket back there. You'd never guess this is his rookie year. Yeah, I'm impressed with him."

Quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko has seen an "it" factor in Bagent since before he signed in Chicago, even back to the Senior Bowl when he played on the team coached by Getsy.

"There have been some great players in Division II," Janocko said. "I've coached in Division II. It was one of the funnest seasons in my life. In the same conference that Tyson was in, so I know there are a lot of great players in there."

Matt Eberflus on Thursday could reveal more about which quarterbacks play or start in the preseason finale.

Bears QBs in Preseason

QB	Att	Completions	Yards	TDs	INTs	Passer Rating
Justin Fields	3	3	129	2	0	158.3
Tyson Bagent	15	13	113	0	0	98.0
Nate Peterman	24	14	173	1	0	94.6
P.J. Walker	12	5	25	0	1	14.6

Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven