Bears QB Tyson Bagent says calling trip to Lambeau Field just another game 'just wouldn't be true'

Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune on Oct 7, 2026

Published in Football

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CHICAGO — As a backup with 14 NFL games under his belt, Chicago Bears quarterback Tyson Bagent has faced the Minnesota Vikings four times and the Detroit Lions once.

But he never had been called to duty against the Bears’ chief rival in the NFC North, the Green Bay Packers — until now.

And Sunday’s game is at Lambeau Field, which has been a house of horrors for the Bears most of this century, including 15 losses in the last 18 trips.

“You go into each week the exact same as Wednesday, Thursday, Friday getting the exact plan down, being locked in, taking it extremely (seriously),” Bagent said. “But to say this is just like any game just wouldn’t be true. This is one of the greatest rivalries in all of sports.

“It’s easy for the fans to get up for, easy for us to get up for, so it will certainly be a different feel out there.”

Bagent has started two road games, both in 2023 and neither against a division opponent (Los Angeles Chargers and New Orleans Saints) or in a stadium where the weather can be intimidating. He was active for two previous trips to Lambeau Field but watched from the sideline.

“My experience has been cold when we have been there,” he said. “We have played late in the season since I’ve been here. It will be pretty warm on Sunday, so I’m sure the weather will feel a lot different.”

Coach Ben Johnson downplayed the notion that he has to do anything special to get Bagent ready to face the Packers on the road.

“He’s just got to figure out what he did well (in Week 4 against the New York Jets), keep doing that and then the things that we need to improve on, we’ll improve on,” Johnson said. “It doesn’t matter home or away or who we’re playing. That’s really the name of the game.”

At least there’s no mystery over Bagent being named the starter this time.

Bagent threw for 268 yards with one interception and a career-high 73.5% completion rate during a 23-12 win over the Jets at Soldier Field.

“Super impressive,” wide receiver Rome Odunze said. “Tyson’s a guy that comes in with his hard hat on every single day, ready to work, and is extremely talented. So when he goes out there and rips it, maybe it’s not a surprise to us.

“So we’re looking to build on that and do our thing out there. We’re happy with Tyson doing his thing.”

Injury report

Running backs D’Andre Swift (hip/knee) and Kyle Monangai (thumb/toe) missed practice Wednesday.

“(Monangai’s) thumb’s not an issue,” Johnson said before practice, “but he did have 30 carries (against the Jets) and he feels like he had 30 carries.”

As for Swift, who fumbled only twice all of last season, he already has lost two fumbles through four games — one against the Vikings in Week 2 and the other against the Jets.

“It’s very uncharacteristic,” Johnson said. “I give Minnesota a lot of credit. That’s what they do. … The one last week was egregious, though. That’s one that we can’t have. There’s too many times where the ball is getting away from our body, and he knows that. … So we’ve just got to tighten that up and he’ll be just fine moving forward.”

Also on the injury front, more than half of the starting offensive line was listed as nonparticipants in practice: right tackle Darnell Wright (ankle), right guard Jonah Jackson (ankle) and left guard Joe Thuney (pectoral).

Quarterback Caleb Williams (hamstring) and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett (rest) also sat out. Linebacker Keyshaun Elliott (quadriceps) was limited, while defensive back Cam Lewis (hip) was a full participant.

Roster shuffle

Wednesday marked the 15th day of the 21-day practice windows for defensive end Shemar Turner (knee) and linebacker Noah Sewell (Achilles) to return from the reserve/physically unable to perform list. Both were limited in practice. Nickel cornerback Kyler Gordon (calf) is eight days into his window and practiced in full.

With 52 active players, the Bears have an open roster spot.

“We’ll make a decision at the end of the week if one of those three are ready to go,” Johnson said.

Meanwhile, Johnson said defensive end Marcus Davenport’s request to be released from the practice squad Monday was “a little bit out of left field.”

Davenport, 30, played 12 defensive snaps and one on special teams against the Jets and assisted on a tackle. Bears coaches thought he was rounding into football shape and looked good.

“If you’re not full steam ahead, then you can’t cheat your teammates or cheat the game,” Johnson said. “He just felt like it was time to hang it up. Grateful he was honest.”

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