Bears 24, Titans 15: Bagent Hits Thomas for 97, Williams Watches

August 29, 2026 - Nashville - First play from scrimmage. Tyson Bagent threw it. Zavion Thomas ran it 97 yards. Caleb Williams watched in a gray shirt and sunglasses.

The Chicago Bears beat the Tennessee Titans 24-15. Both clubs finished 2-1. Justin Fields was not here. He is Kansas City's backup. That tape was Friday in Arrowhead, and he did not play there either.

"When Tyson starts the game like that, I think he had, what? One incompletion?" Ben Johnson said. "He was on fire."

16 of 17, then the backups of the backups

Bagent completed his first seven passes for 155 yards. Chicago converted its first four fourth downs. He finished 16 of 17 for 208 yards and two touchdowns before leaving with a 14-9 halftime lead. Thomas caught all five targets for 140 yards. Bagent called the 97-yarder Thomas' first NFL play.

The second drive ended on a botched handoff. Jacob Martin recovered a fumble credited to Bagent. Jeffery Simmons, Jermaine Johnson II, and rookie Keldric Faulk celebrated from the sideline.

Robert Saleh sat almost every starter. He said camp had overshot projected reps by more than 60. Cam Ward watched Will Levis start: 14 of 22, 143 yards, a recovered fumble on a botched handoff, three field-goal drives, the last as the half expired. Tennessee started three defensive regulars: Martin, linebacker Cedric Gray, and nickel Marcus Harris.

Bagent's second touchdown went to third-round tight end Sam Roush. Case Keenum took the third quarter. Roschon Johnson scored from 3. Cairo Santos added a field goal. 24-9. Undrafted Miller Moss played the fourth.

Hendon Hooker replaced Levis after the half. Mitch Trubisky stayed on the sideline. D'Ernest Johnson scored from 9 late. The 2-point try failed. 24-15.

Slye's summer, then Sept. 13 in Charlotte

Joey Slye made two more in the first half and finished the preseason with 11 field goals. ESPN said he was the first player since the start of the 2017 preseason to make at least four in consecutive exhibitions, and that he made all five from 50-plus. By halftime he had the most preseason field goals by any player since Graham Gano's 13 for Carolina in 2016.

Brittain Brown went into the concussion protocol. Ray-Ray McCloud III and Jaylon Jones left with hamstrings. Titans safety Kendall Brooks went to the locker room from the medical tent. Saleh said corner Joshua Williams has a pectoral injury that puts his opener status "in the air."

Chicago opens Sept. 13 at Carolina. Tennessee hosts the Jets the same day.

AthX Engine, if this were a regular-season card

AthX Engine NFL scoring on Saturday's verified lines:

Thomas' 97-yard catch is 6 fantasy points plus receiving yards and Half-PPR. Roush's score pays the tight-end premium. Johnson's 3-yard run is a rushing touchdown. Bagent's 208 pass yards score at 2 points per 25. Slye's makes sit on the kicker table. Preseason games are not stored as AthX Engine weekly lines yet.

Fantasy points measure the box. Price is what traders will pay when Williams and Ward are in September plans.

Track Williams, Ward, Slye, and the Bears and Titans on the marketplace.

*Sources: AP recap, Bears.com, ESPN, NFL.com schedules. Information only; not financial advice.*