Bears QB Tyson Bagent suffered hamstring injury vs. Browns

August 19, 2026 - 01:40

The Chicago Bears had a bit of a scare at quarterback depth on Tuesday. Backup signal-caller Tyson Bagent was not seen at the team's practice session, a day after he picked up a hamstring injury during the preseason opener against the Cleveland Browns.

Bagent, who entered the game in the second half, was seen grabbing at his leg after a scramble. The team has not yet released an official update on the severity of the injury, but his absence from practice is a clear sign that the coaching staff is taking a cautious approach. Head coach Matt Eberflus did not have a definitive timeline for Bagent's return, only saying the team would evaluate him day by day.

The injury is a blow for a player who was expected to see significant action in the remaining preseason games. With Caleb Williams locked in as the starter, the backup role is one of the more important battles in camp. Bagent, who showed flashes of competence as a rookie last year, was competing with veteran Brett Rypien for the number two spot. If Bagent is forced to miss extended time, Rypien will likely get all the reps with the second-team offense in the next exhibition game.

The Bears are already dealing with a thin offensive line and a few other nagging injuries on defense, so losing a backup quarterback for any length of time is not ideal. Still, the team is expected to be cautious with Bagent, especially since the regular season is still a month away. The next update on his status will likely come after Wednesday's practice.