QB Tyson Bagent will start for Bears vs. Packers in Week 5, Ben Johnson says

Sean Hammond, Chicago Tribune on Oct 5, 2026

Published in Football

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CHICAGO — Tyson Bagent will start at quarterback for the Chicago Bears in Week 5 against the Green Bay Packers, coach Ben Johnson announced Monday during his weekly radio spot on WMVP-AM 1000.

In an interview with Bears play-by-play voice Jeff Joniak, Johnson said Bagent would be “the guy” Sunday at Lambeau Field. Last week Johnson didn’t announce a starter before the Week 4 matchup with the New York Jets, but there will be no such gamesmanship this week.

Bagent will be behind center for the second consecutive week as starting quarterback Caleb Williams continues to recover from a strained hamstring he suffered in Week 2.

Bagent led the Bears to a 23-12 victory over the Jets on Sunday on Soldier Field. He was 25-of-34 passing for 268 yards with an interception as the Bears leaned heavily on their running game, with Kyle Monangai contributing 146 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries.

Third-string quarterback Case Keenum started in a Week 3 win over the Philadelphia Eagles after Williams’ injury because Bagent missed most of that week of practice due to concussion symptoms. With Bagent fully healthy entering the Jets game, Johnson transitioned to the fourth-year pro, who has been the Bears’ No. 2 quarterback since his rookie season in 2023.

The Bears technically started both Bagent and Keenum against the Jets. Keenum took the first snap at quarterback with Bagent lined up at wide receiver. But after that play, it was all Bagent.

After the game, Johnson indicated he was irked by reports over the weekend that said Bagent would start at quarterback.

“I got all these memos saying that Tyson was starting before I ever made an announcement,” Johnson said Sunday. “So I wanted to get Case out there first time. It was like his ceremonial first pitch out there, handing off the torch.”

Johnson was complimentary of the work Bagent has done to earn the backup job.

“Tyson’s earned the right to be our No. 2 quarterback,” Johnson said Sunday. “I have a lot of confidence in him, thought he played really well today. Efficient with the football. Obviously he had the one (interception), left the ball a little bit behind where he’d like to go with it, but other than that, I thought he had a great job with the operation.”

With Williams set to miss his third game, Bagent is in line for his sixth career start.

The Bears and Packers will meet for the first time since the Bears erased an 18-point halftime deficit to win a wild-card playoff game in January at Soldier Field.

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