We made it.
The final game of the NFL preseason is in the books with the Bears flying home with a 24-15 win over the Titans in Nashville.
Most of the starters sat for this one, but there was still plenty beyond a “Green Bay Sucks!” chant from all the Bears fans in Tennessee to keep our interest.
Three takeaways coming right up, but first … have you subscribed to the new Bears By 7 channel on YouTube? First podcast drops early next week.
1. Welcome to the NFL, Zavion Thomas!
With the offensive starters enjoying another night on the sidelines, it would’ve been easy for Ben Johnson to go conservative with the playbook and not put anything on tape for the defensive coordinators they’ll face this season.
He instead called this on the Bears’ first play of scrimmage 🤯
If you couldn’t watch the game, that’s a 97-yard touchdown from Tyson Bagent to rookie receiver Zavion Thomas, his moves and 4.28 speed being seared into the minds of defensive coordinators and backfields across the league.
Thomas had himself a night, catching five passes on five targets for 140 yards and getting more NFL main account treatment with this 39-yard punt return that gave off some Devin Hester vibes.
Thomas did have one misstep, fumbling an exchange with Bagent on a reverse, yet even that should stick with future opponents.
Back here in Chicago, we’ve seen the OTA and training camp highlights where Thomas has displayed his speed and deep ball ability. But putting it on game tape against an opponent makes him an official problem across the league and should open up some things for his teammates whenever he’s on the field.
Thomas’ effort was the coda for a good preseason from the 2026 draft class. Whether it was Sam Roush flashing on routes, Jordan van den Berg flying into the sidelines or Logan Jones turning in good reps on the line, there are some potential difference makers to keep an eye on.
2. Tyson Bagent rebounded well
Bagent wasn’t happy with his start in the preseason opener against Cleveland and then missed last weekend’s game in Cincinnati with an injury.
But if this was (hopefully) the last substantial amount of football we see from Bagent this year, he acquitted himself well.
Appearing in just the first half, Bagent completed 16-of-17 passes for 208 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions for a rating of 156.9.
In addition to easily finding Thomas on the first play from scrimmage, Bagent connected with Maurice Alexander on a fourth-and-goal for a second quarter touchdown.
If all plays out like it should, Bagent will provide good insurance for the Bears this season before being moved for a good draft pick and getting his long-deserved chance to start somewhere else.
But to do that, Bagent has to have good things on tape. He did just that on Saturday night.
3. Get used to preseasons like this one
Three preseason games. One drive from Caleb Williams and the starters.
Which is fine! Not only did it keep those guys safe from the rash of injuries that happened at Halas Hall, it’s a leading indicator the Bears have the quarterback, coach and offense we’ve long waited for.
And it’s probably not going to change anytime soon. The Bears were far from the only team to dress their starters in sweats for a majority of the preseason. This past weekend’s games featured almost no one you’ll be selecting in fantasy drafts over the next two weeks.
I’ll even put my tinfoil hat on and say some of this might be a ploy to expedite the elimination of the third preseason game and the addition of an 18th regular season game.
That’s a different newsletter for a different time, though. For now, I’m glad the Bears made it through the preseason and real football is just two weekends away.
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