The Chicago Bears starters were on the sidelines, but the backups got the job done on Thursday night. The Bears won their first preseason game by a score of 21-17 over the Houston Texans in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, OH.
The Bears got off to a slow start, frankly, because of how bad the second-team defensive line played. Still, the team scored a touchdown on the opening drive in the second half to take a 21-17 lead they would not relinquish before the officials canceled the game late in the third quarter due to weather.
The Brett Rypien to Collin Johnson connection
A few Bears players stood out during the game. Quarterback Brett Rypien and wide receiver Collin Johnson had a noticeable connection. Johnson finished with three receptions for 56 yards and two touchdowns, though he did have a couple of dropped passes.
On defense, Austin Booker showed that he could penetrate into the backfield during a pass rush. He made a nice move into the backfield on a play Byron Cowart would complete a strip sack.
After watching Thursday’s game, it’s hard to judge how good Rypien or Booker are to their peers. Rypien put up better numbers than Tyson Bagent, but he was given more reps and played against lower-tier competition on the Texans’ defense.
Kahlil Herbert outplayed Roschon Johnson, but on the third-team
Khalil Herbert was given RB3 reps, and he had better numbers than RB2 Roschon Johnson. Herbert finished with 35 rushing yards on six carries, while Johnson ran six times for 24 yards.
A one-game preseason sample size will not significantly affect the outcome of the coaching staff’s final roster later this month. How these players perform constantly in practice is another important factor.
Bears fans are excited about a few players
Bears fans took to social media to rave about a few players. Some think Rypien should replace Bagent as the QB2 after Thursday night’s game.
Collin Johnson is the underdog receiver fans hope he makes the WR6 spot this year.
Austin Booker is becoming a household name in Chicago.
