Fallers from the Bears vs Texans Game
The Chicago Bears secured a victory against the Houston Texans on Thursday night with a final score of 21-17. Although the game was called off with over 3 minutes left in the third quarter due to poor weather conditions, the Bears claimed their first win of the 2024 NFL preseason. Neither team’s starters played any snaps (fortunately, given the poor field conditions in Ohio), but there were still many intriguing players to watch. In this column, I’ll discuss the players whose performances fell short in the Bears vs. Texans game. Be sure to check out my upcoming column where I’ll highlight players who improved their stock in this first preseason matchup.
Dante Pettis, WR
Pettis had one reception for 11 yards, but his performance on special teams significantly hurt his stock. Late in the third quarter, after the Bears’ defense forced a Texans three-and-out, Pettis muffed the punt, allowing the Texans to recover. Given the team’s depth at WR and the emergence of veteran WR Collin Johnson, it’s likely that Pettis will be cut in the coming weeks.
Tyson Bagent, QB
Tyson Bagent played one drive, completing 2 of 3 passes for 16 yards. His night ended after the drive stalled due to a false start by TE Tommy Sweet, which led to a Bears punt. Bagent didn’t perform poorly, but fellow QB Brett Rypien stole the show against the Texans. Rypien completed 11 of 15 passes for 166 yards and 3 touchdowns. Rypien’s impressive performance has ramped up the “competition” for the QB2 spot, putting pressure on Bagent.
Roschon Johnson, HB
Roschon Johnson is in a similar position as Tyson Bagent. While Johnson’s performance on Thursday night wasn’t bad—he had 4 carries for 24 yards and one reception for 7 yards—it was Khalil Herbert’s performance that really stood out. Coming in after Johnson as RB2, Herbert had 4 carries for 35 yards, averaging 8.8 yards per carry compared to Johnson’s 4.0. Herbert’s impressive showing, especially after dealing with injuries in 2023, puts pressure on Johnson. Despite the small sample size, I believe Herbert will start the season as RB2.
The Bears’ depth at running back is a great to see though. But if Herbert continues to improve his pass protection, the competition might not even be close.