Former Shepherd star Tyson Bagent earns job as Chicago Bears’ backup QB
Tyson Bagent is an NFL quarterback.
The former Shepherd University star currently is one of only two QBs on the Chicago Bears’ roster after Tuesday’s cut-day deadline of 4 p.m., when each NFL team had to reduce its number of players from 90 to 53.
Bagent, a Martinsburg (W.Va.) High School graduate, is in line to back up Justin Fields under center.
Bagent — an undrafted free agent who spent much of the offseason as Chicago’s fourth QB — was impressive in the preseason. Over three games, he completed 20 of 29 passes for 156 yards with one interception. He also had seven carries for 25 yards and two touchdowns.
On Sunday, the Bears released P.J. Walker, and on Tuesday they cut Nathan Peterman, leaving the team with only two quarterbacks.
Bagent, who won the Harlon Hill Trophy in 2021 as the best player in NCAA Division II, finished his career at Shepherd last year with an NCAA all-division record of 159 touchdown passes. He also set Division II career records for passing yards (17,034) and pass completions (1,400).
Shepherd pro day: Fisher, Bagent draw NFL scouts from 31 teams
Three of his fellow D2 All-American teammates at Shepherd also signed as undrafted free agents with NFL teams in April — offensive lineman Joey Fisher with the San Francisco 49ers, running back Ronnie Brown with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and tight end Brian Walker with the Baltimore Ravens.
Fisher and Brown were both released on Tuesday, while Walker was cut in June.
Fisher, a Clear Spring graduate, played 37 snaps at left guard during the preseason for San Francisco. On Wednesday, he was signed to the Pittsburgh Steelers' practice squad.
Over three preseason games with the Buccaneers, Brown had 12 carries for 33 yards and three receptions for 29 yards.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Bagent earns QB job in Chicago; Joey Fisher cut by 49ers
