Bagent’s near-perfect half sets tone in finale
The Chicago Bears closed their preseason with a decisive victory over the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium, driven by a high-octane first half from quarterback Tyson Bagent and a complementary display from a roster full of players auditioning for final spots.
Bagent started and played the entire first half, completing 16 of 17 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns while posting a 156.9 passer rating. He also carried the ball twice for 21 yards. On several plays Bagent stood in the pocket under pressure and delivered precise throws, including a deep strike that resulted in a long touchdown by rookie Zavion Thomas.
The Bears' defense, which featured only a handful of regular starters, gave players fighting for roster spots increased looks, and the team capped its preseason with a victory in Nashville.
Zavion Thomas flashes game-changing speed and playmaking
Zavion Thomas made an immediate statement in his first preseason action. On his first play, he took a deep pass from Bagent and broke it into the end zone for a long touchdown — the exact yardage varies in accounts, with Si recording it as a 97-yard score and Headtopics listing the play as 70 yards — but the takeaway was unmistakable: Thomas beat a defensive back with a double move and outran the coverage.
Thomas finished the game with five catches for a team-high 140 receiving yards, including a 97-yard touchdown, added a 39-yard punt return and a 22-yard kickoff return on special teams, and reached a top speed of 21.99 MPH — the fastest speed for any ball-carrier this preseason, according to Next Gen Stats.
Si noted that Thomas might only be listed behind several veterans on the depth chart entering the season, but his explosiveness underscored why the Bears would want to find a way to get him involved. That assessment frames the decision-makers' dilemma as they trim toward the 53-man roster.
Preseason finale sharpens focus on roster cuts
With the exhibition slate complete, the Bears now turn full attention to reducing the roster to 53 players by Sunday, Aug. 30 at 5 p.m. The coaching staff used this game to give extended looks to players battling for spots — particularly on defense, where starters were largely held out — leaving front-office and coaching evaluations fresh for the weekend’s final decisions.
Bagent’s hot half and Thomas’ explosive plays are the clearest takeaways from that evaluation window. For Bagent, the performance offers a high-profile sample of his accuracy and playmaking in game conditions. For Thomas, the combination of big-play receiving, return value and elite straight-line speed provides multiple paths to roster value despite the early fumble.
Beyond the headline performers, the contest served its roster-evaluation purpose: it separated players who can impact on offense, special teams and in depth roles from those who will face an uphill climb to make the cut. The defense’s limited use of starters gave reserves increased reps against NFL competition — information the staff will weigh heavily during final roster conversations.
Coaches and personnel decision-makers have little time to deliberate. The preseason is over; final roster moves are imminent. The performances from Bagent and Thomas in Nashville will be central datapoints as the Bears determine who earns roster spots and who becomes part of the post-cut roster churn.
