Based on reports, Las Vegas Raiders starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has been ruled out for Sundays game on the lakefront due to a back injury. 14-year veteran Brian Hoyer (38) will likely start. Hoyer replaced Garoppolo against the Patriots, going 6 of 10 for 102 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. He led the Raiders to two drives ending in field goals to win over the struggling New England Patriots.
Coincidentally, undrafted free agent rookie Tyson Bagent will likely be replacing Justin Fields under center due to a dislocated thumb on Fields' throwing hand which made it difficult to grip the ball. Bagent experienced first hand the challenges Justin Fields faced with a struggling offensive line He finished the day going 10 of 14 for 83 yards and an interception while rushing for a touchdown late in the game to bring the game within one score.
While the matchup will be veteran Brian Hoyer vs. Tyson Bagent on Sunday at Soldier Field, the matchup to watch is the Raiders passing defense against a rookie getting his first start.
The Raiders defense has come up with two interceptions in each of their last two games, but only have five on the season total. Maxx Crosby appears to be struggling with a knee injury and has been limited in practice, but is expected to play.
Tyson Bagent shows confidence and poise in the pocket. His ability to dissect a play and release the ball quickly will be a stark contrast to Justin Fields playing style, and could prove to be a big asset for a struggling Chicago Bears offense.
The Raiders defense is top 10 in passing yards and tied for 5th in passing touchdowns given up, but are the 9th worst team in sacking the quarterback. Conversely, they are 10th worst in the league against the run game. The Bears would be wise to use D'onte Foreman and Darrynton Evans to pound the ball against the Raiders.
The Chicago Bears defense has shown improvement in recent games, getting more pressure on the opposing quarterback, forcing two turnovers against the Commanders in week 5, and holding the Vikings to just 220 total yards offensively in week 6. Chicago's defense has been very good against the rush this season ranked 9th in rushing yards allowed and tied for 4th in rushing touchdowns allowed.
As the team continues to gel, we should expect improvements from a variety of positions on this roster. Off to a 1-5 start, the Chicago Bears should be looking to evaluate each position, playing young guys and identifying which players will remain on the roster next season. The Las Vegas Raiders give the Bears another chance to play against another team in the NFL who is also struggling to find an identity as they go through their own adversity.
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