Tyson Bagent reflects Chicago Bears frustration on the day

When you're the quarterback, everyone sees what happens whether it's a win or a loss.

"I'll say it again, I'll be a mirror when it goes bad and window when it goes good," Bagent told reporters at Sofi Stadium Sunday night.

The reflection was there for all to see against the Chargers as Bagent showed some of the flaws that could be expected from a Division II passer in his third NFL appearance, a game the Bears lost 30-13.

"I've got to do a better job taking care of the ball and that's about the extent of it," Bagent said.

The same problems plaguing the Bears offense at times when Justin Fields has been the quarterback became problems for Bagent: He didn't get the ball to DJ Moore enough, there were drops and the passing game didn't stand up to the pressure trying to be perfect while the Bears defense kept giving up scores.

"I thought it was solid," was the way coach Matt Eberflus summed up the performance by his backup in a second straight start for Fields. "I thought he operated well."

It was no worse than anyone else on offense, anyway. And Bagent avoided a huge gaffe, like the one wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. had when he fell while wide open in the end zone, sat there and had the ball come to him and then dropped it anyway.

Bagent had to feel that one was a touchdown when it left his hand.

"I felt good about it but you know I'm always going to trust the guys that are out there," Bagent told reporters. "I've got full faith in Velus. I've seen him make palys like that a million times so if that happens next week and the week after that I'm still going to make it a point to get him the ball."

Bagent does have a tendency to exaggerate. After all, he said he had a cannon for an arm.

Getting it to DJ Moore was more advisable than to Jones. But Moore came away with six targets and four catches for 55 yards. All but one target was in the first half.

"That's never a good thing," Bagent said. "But you know, it's all just how the game flows. I think there are a couple, when I think about off the top of my head, where I think I could've gave him the ball a little bit more.

"But you know, I'll have to go back and look at the film and check."

Bagent did check down well and found tight end Cole Kmet 10 out of 10 throws for 79 yards. He had the 41-yard throw on the first play of the game to Darnell Mooney that wound up as a big gainer but should have been a touchdown if the official hadn't decided to blow the whistle for no reason.

If Moore wasn't getting open, he wasn't alone. Mooney had no more catches after the deep ball on the first play, with four total targets.

Bagent was almost open himself on one play. It was Mooney trying to hit him on a throw-back pass, but Khalil Mack sniffed it out and followed Bagent all the way downfield to break it up.

"I think he's one of the greatest when you think about players in the league, so high IQ and it's a good thing he did or that would have bene a touchdown," Bagent said.

He has an awful lot of faith in his own receiving ability or in Mooney's arm.

Whether he gets another chance depends up on Justin Fields' thumb now.

"It's nothing for me to figure out," Bagent said. "That's out of my control. So I'm going to attack this week the same way I always do. Everything stays the same."

He has to hope it does, anyway. Or it could be the last time he is at quarterback this year.