The Chicago Bears closed their preseason with a 24-15 win over the Tennessee Titans on Saturday night, and the result mattered most for the players fighting at the margins of the 53-man roster.
Chicago rested nearly all of its established starters. That turned the finale into a long audition for backups, rookies and players trying to claim a final roster spot or a place on the practice squad. Tyson Bagent and Zavion Thomas supplied the headline moments, but several lesser-known Bears made meaningful cases for themselves, while others failed to capitalize on one last opportunity.
Here is the stock report after the Bears' final preseason game.
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Bagent did not need Saturday's game to secure his place as Caleb Williams' backup. He did, however, remind everyone why the Bears value him so highly.
The fourth-year quarterback completed 16 of 17 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns in one half of work, posting a 156.9 passer rating. He also added 21 rushing yards and directed a 16-play touchdown drive that included three successful fourth-down conversions.
The 97-yard touchdown to Thomas was the loudest play, but Bagent's second touchdown was equally revealing. He escaped pressure on fourth-and-goal and found Maurice Alexander in the back of the end zone. Later, he helped sustain a long possession by converting fourth downs with decisive throws and by trusting the offense to get the needed yardage on the ground.
Bagent did have a botched jet-sweep exchange with Thomas, but both players took accountability afterward. Beyond that, he was calm, accurate and in control. The Bears have their QB2, and Bagent's performance only strengthens his value around the league .
Thomas could not have designed a better return from his knee injury.
On Chicago's first offensive play, the rookie receiver beat cornerback Keydrain Calligan with a double move, caught Bagent's pass at the Bears' 32-yard line and ran untouched to the end zone for a 97-yard touchdown. Thomas finished with five catches for 140 yards, while also contributing a 39-yard punt return and a 22-yard kickoff return.
The third-round pick showed exactly why the Bears were attracted to his 4.28 speed. Once he had open field in front of him, the Titans had no chance of catching him.
The fumble on a jet-sweep exchange was the one negative. Thomas directly blamed himself for not securing the ball, while Bagent said the quarterback room has work to do on those under-center handoffs. That is a correctable issue, not a reason to diminish the rest of Thomas' night.
Thomas will not suddenly become an every-down offensive starter. But he gave Ben Johnson a compelling reason to find a package for him, and his return ability makes him even more valuable on game days.
Newman's final audition went in the wrong direction.
The second-year guard was flagged for two holding penalties, both of which put the Bears' offense behind schedule. Chicago's reserve offensive line also continued a penalty problem that had followed the team out of the Bengals game.
There is not much margin for error for a backup interior lineman competing for one of the final roster spots. Newman needed a clean game to separate himself from other depth options. Instead, he supplied the most obvious individual negative on the Bears' offensive line.
Thomas commanded the spotlight, but Alexander quietly produced one of the most important nights among the Bears' receivers.
Alexander caught seven passes for 50 yards and a touchdown, hauling in Bagent's second scoring pass on fourth-and-goal. He also caught an 11-yard pass on fourth-and-2 during the same 16-play touchdown march. That kind of production matters in a crowded receiver room where every player on the bubble needs to show a role.
Coach Ben Johnson also highlighted Alexander after the game for his willingness to do whatever was needed. When running back Brittain Brown left with a concussion, Alexander moved into the backfield and helped finish the game there.
Alexander has a connection with Bagent from their practice work, and Saturday showed up on the field. He is not just a receiver trying to make plays in garbage time; he is a versatile offensive player who can help a team short-handed at multiple positions.
Aug 26, 2022; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders running back Brittain Brown (38) carries the ball against the New England Patriots during a preseason game at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Brown had a chance to make a statement in a crowded running back room and could not do it.
He carried the ball six times for 11 yards before leaving the game and entering concussion protocol. The injury itself should not be held against him, but Brown did not make the most of the opportunities he received before exiting.
With D'Andre Swift locked into the lead role and Chicago sorting through Kyle Monangai's knee issue, Roschon Johnson and Salvon Ahmed, Brown needed a more productive final preseason push. Instead, his roster case became more difficult.
Moss entered the preseason finale with a difficult path to the active roster, and he did not change that reality.
The rookie quarterback completed one pass for 12 yards and had a 15-yard scramble after replacing Case Keenum in the fourth quarter. There was no major mistake, but there was also no moment that demanded the Bears keep a fourth quarterback. His limited playing time suggests his time in Chicago might be over.
Bagent is entrenched as QB2, and Keenum's veteran experience gives Chicago another option in the room. Moss may still be a practice-squad candidate, but Saturday did not provide the closing argument he needed.
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Smith did not record a tackle, but he made the two plays that mattered.
The third-year cornerback broke up two third-down passes in the red zone, forcing Tennessee to settle for field goals on both possessions. In a secondary that has been hit hard by injuries, Smith's ability to make a play on the ball could be important.
Smith had missed much of training camp and entered the finale needing a strong finish and he delivered one. He may not have settled every question about the Bears' cornerback depth, but he gave the personnel department a clear reminder that he can still contribute when healthy.
Sewell was already facing a tough climb in the secondary, and the Titans game did not help.
The defensive back missed multiple tackles, including on Tennessee's lone touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Tackling is non-negotiable for depth defenders trying to make an NFL roster, particularly on a Bears defense that wants to play physical and lean on special-teams contributions from its reserves.
Sewell's roster chances were never strong, but the finale gave him an opportunity to make the decision harder. Instead, it likely made the Bears' final cuts a little easier.
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