From undrafted DII QB to NFL starter Bears Tyson Bagent ready for moment

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Three plays after being thrust into action against the Minnesota Vikings in place of an injured Justin Fields on Sunday, Tyson Bagent's regular-season debut teetered on the verge of disaster.

The Chicago Bears' undrafted free agent quarterback tried to avoid an all-out blitz by side-stepping a free rusher, but upon cutting back to his right, Vikings safety Josh Metellus barreled down on Bagent and forced him to cough up the ball, which Minnesota returned 46 yards for a third-quarter touchdown.

Rookie wide receiver Tyler Scott stood next to Bagent on the Bears sideline as the QB aimed to diagnose what had happened. That moment reinforced to Scott the type of player he had witnessed Bagent develop into since the two made their way to Chicago in the spring.

"He's always prepared," Scott said. "That's one thing I noticed because I sit next to him sometimes on the plane. He's always watching film, always looking over the book because [you're] one play away."

One drive did not define Bagent's welcome to the NFL. The 23-year-old quarterback marched the Bears 77 yards down field for a touchdown in the fourth quarter and had a chance to lead a game-winning drive at the end, but he underthrew DJ Moore and was intercepted as the Bears lost 19-13.

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