LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — The Chicago Bears signed backup quarterback Tyson Bagent to a two-year contract extension through the 2027 season on Wednesday.
Chicago also signed veteran running back Royce Freeman and placed running back Deion Hankins on injured reserve with a quad injury. Coach Ben Johnson announced cornerback Terell Smith will miss the season after being carted off the field with a knee injury in Sunday's preseason win over Buffalo.
Bagent played in four games and threw two passes last season with Caleb Williams starting every game after being drafted with the No. 1 overall pick. But he's made a big impression over two seasons.
Undrafted in 2023 following a record-setting career at Division II powerhouse Shepherd University, Bagent played in five games and made four starts while leading Chicago to two wins with Justin Fields injured. He completed 66% of his passes for 859 yards with three touchdowns and six interceptions.
“I’ve really been blown away by his approach from the spring to start of camp to where we are now," coach Ben Johnson said. “He does a tremendous job knowing what to do, how to do it and getting it done. So I don’t think you can have enough talent in that room. I think we actually have one of the best rooms in the NFL, certainly that I’ve been around in my career from top to bottom.”
Bagent, who grew up in Martinsburg, West Virginia, set what was the NCAA’s all-division mark with 159 career touchdown passes, and finished with more completions (1,400) and yards passing (17,034) than any other Division II quarterback. In 2021, Bagent won the Harlon Hill Trophy, Division II’s equivalent of the Heisman.
Freeman, a third-round draft pick by Denver in 2018, has run for 1,792 yards and 10 touchdowns with the Broncos, Houston, Los Angeles Rams and Carolina.
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The Associated Press
