Brett Rypien deals, Collin Johnson dazzles, and other takeaways from the Chicago Bears preseason opener
The Chicago Bears preseason opener against the Houston Texans kicked off with viewers getting the first look at the new league-wide kickoff rules in action and was ultimately called short do to inclement weather after roughly three quarters of play with the Bears leading 21-17.Second-year quarterback Tyson Bagent got the start at quarterback for the Bears […]
The Chicago Bears preseason opener against the Houston Texans kicked off with viewers getting the first look at the new league-wide kickoff rules in action and was ultimately called short do to inclement weather after roughly three quarters of play with the Bears leading 21-17.
Second-year quarterback Tyson Bagent got the start at quarterback for the Bears with rookie Caleb Williams and the rest of the starters sitting out.
Bagent exited the game after one drive, and from then on, it was the Brett Rypien show for the Bears new offense.
Brett Rypien Shines Off The Bench
The Bears veteran quarterback played the entire second quarter and into the second-half after Bagent got one drive in the first quarter. Rypien finished the game 11/15 passing with 166 yards, three touchdowns and a 148.9 passer rating.
"This one meant a lot for me tonight," Rypien said after the game. "Sitting on a year after my last start in Green Bay not going the way I wanted it to, I've had a bad taste in my mouth the entire offseason and took the approach that I didn't even know if I was going to have an opportunity to compete for anything… When you put in the work and it shows, it feels good."
Rypien was dealing all game long, making extremely tough throws look easy all over the field. Part of me wishes the Bears gave Bagent more reps in the preseason opener to see how much of a competition it will be for the QB2 job. With three preseason games still to go, there will still be plenty of time to see more of Bagent.
Rypien was also strong outside of the pocket as well. The fifth-year quarterback had a nice scramble for nine yards and made some solid throws on the run as well. Overall, it was a great first showing by the vet.
Collin Johnson Was A Big-Play Machine
Preseason action is a great opportunity to set yourself apart from other players at your position and that's exactly what wide receiver Collin Johnson did on Thursday against the Texans.
The big-bodied target played a solid portion of the game for the Bears and hauled in three receptions on six targets for 56 yards and two scores.
Johnson's most notable play came in the second quarter during a 2:00 minute drive by the offense. On the play, Rypien hit Johnson down the sideline. The 6'6 target went up for the ball and came down with a ridiculous reception.
"Sometimes all you need is a couple of plays in practice and faith in each other," Johnson explained after the game. "So, we just went out there and executed."
Johnson spent the 2023 season on the Bears practice squad and had three call ups during the season. After his performance in the Hall of Fame Game and his efforts on special teams throughout, Johnson should be fully in the picture for the open sixth wide receiver spot on the 53-man roster.
Austin Booker Lives Up To Expectations
The Bears fifth-round rookie pass rusher Austin Booker was given one goal by his defensive coordinator in his debut game: hit the quarterback.
While he didn't come away with an official sack on the stat sheet, Booker was still able to collapse the pocket early in the third quarter and got his hands on quarterback Case Keenum. The play ended in a strip sack that was given to fellow defensive lineman Byron Cowart, but Booker's presence was felt.
Booker got a surprising amount of reps during his first preseason game for the Bears, considering the team has big plans for him as a rotational piece on defense. During the game, Booker's speed was clearly evident off the edge, as was his power.
He showed everything defensive coordinator Eric Washington was hoping to see out of the rookie: speed, power, explosion, and strong hand usage. It's was a great sight to see this early in his development.
Other Takeaways
The Good:
The RB2 battle is certainly still on between Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson. Both backs had a few solid touches and showed off some solid burst. Johnson was in on the first and third drives of the game while Herbert played the second. Johnson finished with 24 yards on six carries. Herbert had 35 yards on four carries.
Elijah Hicks played really well in coverage and wasn't afraid to come down to make some great tackles. He finished the game with four solo tackles and played with fantastic effort. Right now, I'd be comfortable with the safety room on the Bears 53-man roster consisting of Kevin Byard, Jaquan Brisker, Jonathan Owens, and Hicks.
The Bad:
It was a tough night for wide receiver Dante Pettis on Thursday. Pettis was already on the roster bubble going into the game and had the biggest lowlight on the team after muffing a punt return recovered by the Texans. Deandre Carter had one punt return on the night that went for nine yards. If either player wants to make the team, it'll have to come through being the punt returner and it was a bad first outing.
The backup defensive linemen (outside Booker) and the linebackers in the middle played really poorly between missed tackles and issues in coverage. Undrafted rookie Carl Jones Jr. looked strong however, finishing with a team-high eight tackles and one tackle for a loss. His stock definitely went up after tonight's game.
