With Justin Fields nursing a thumb injury, backup quarterback and former Division II player Tyson Bagent had to play hero for the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
The young player shouldered the responsibility well, guiding Chicago to a 21-3 lead over the Las Vegas Raiders. He didn’t make any flash plays, but he also more or less kept the Bears’ offense rolling along with a solid ground-based attack Las Vegas had no answer for. Even if Bagent seemingly couldn’t throw Hail Marys, he punctuated a solid game-manager performance by throwing his first career NFL touchdown to running back D’Onta Foreman.
It’s simple plays and throws like this that could give Bagent a long, serviceable career as a backup:
Tyson Bagent with his first career TD pass 🔥
D'onta Foreman has 3 TDs for the day!
📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/8vKXBADJm6
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 22, 2023
However, what might have been more notable was what happened after the Bears offense left the field. In a still photo (via @_MarcusD3_ on Twitter), a clearly ecstatic Fields seemed so happy for his young backup. Fields beamed with a hilarious grin when Bagent sat down next to him on the Chicago bench:
Bagent and Fields pic.twitter.com/wrNpMwvJ7G
— ✶Ⓜ️𝕒𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕤 ▶️ ✶ (@_MarcusD3_) October 22, 2023
Folks, that’s what it means to be a good teammate. It’s not the highest bar, especially for Fields, as he deals with a tough injury situation, but that’s how you show support for guys trying to make a name for themselves. It’s what you’re supposed to do — hype up your teammates.
It’s abundantly clear Fields cares about Bagent and wants to see him do well, regardless of what bearing it could have on his own Chicago future. That’s what it’s all about.
