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Instant reaction: Bears release quarterback P.J. Walker, paving way for Tyson Bagent to win backup job

Nicholas Moreano

August 28, 2023

The Bears are releasing quarterback P.J. Walker, according to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones.

The Bears signed Walker to a two-year, $4 million contract back in March with $2.01 million being fully guaranteed. The signing made sense at the time as the Bears were bringing in a veteran quarterback with a big arm to back up Justin Fields.

But after each training camp practice, the joint practices against the Colts and the preseason games, it became clear Walker couldn’t be the answer at backup QB for the Bears this season. Bears general manager Ryan Poles missed on this move. There is no other way of saying it.

The second-year general manager did, however, bring in undrafted free agent Tyson Bagent — who has capitalized on the summer and was one of the main reasons why Poles and the Bears’ staff felt comfortable with releasing Walker.

Bagent finished the preseason 20-of-29 for 156 yards and ran for two scores. The undrafted rookie out of Shepherd University officially entered his name to be the No. 2 quarterback after he led the Bears’ offense on a 17-play, 92-yard touchdown drive against the Colts.

“I feel as if I’ve proved that I belong and that I belong in the league, but I think more than anything just all the hope and motivation I’m providing for my siblings and the people back home is really what I kind of sit back and think about when I think about just the whole camp and preseason and how just everything is falling into place,” Bagent said after the preseason game against the Bills.

The Bears also waived offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood on Sunday night, ending the Raiders’ former first-round pick’s time with his “change of scenery” team.