SEPTEMBER 8: As expected, Eberflus said on Friday that it will indeed be Peterman backing up Fields when the Bears host the Packers on Sunday. The veteran will thus be turned to if anything should happen to Chicago’s starter during the game. Bagent will be designated the emergency third quarterback, meaning he will be in uniform without counting as part of the team’s gameday lineup. Only injuries to Fields and Peterman would allow the rookie to enter the game, though, and a return from either would obligate Bagent to head back to the sidelines.
SEPTEMBER 3: The Bears only had two quarterbacks on their initial 53-man roster after deciding to release both P.J. Walker and Nathan Peterman. The decision to cut the latter proved to be a paper transaction, though, and he is again on the active roster. 
As a result, questions have been raised about how the backup spot will shake out behind Justin Fields. The QB2 role was up for grabs during training camp and the preseason, and the play of undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent earned him at least a roster spot to start the year. He may not see backup duties right away, however.
“We have not decided that,” head coach Matt Eberflus said, via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, when asked about who will dress behind Fields in Week 1. “We’re sure glad to have [Peterman] back. He’s really good for that room. Him and Justin learned the offense together, so to speak, so they’re speaking the same language. So they understand it really well. It’s good to have him in the room.”
Peterman’s inclusion on the active roster – as opposed to the practice squad – could suggest he is in line to serve as the backup at least early in the season. Biggs predicts that the 29-year-old will start the campaign in the No. 2 role, which would relegate Bagent to emergency QB duties. Teams are allowed to carry three signal-callers on the roster while still only dressing two on gamedays. Injuries to the starter and backup are required for the third-stringer to be allowed to enter the game, however.
As Biggs notes, Bagent could move himself past Peterman while continuing to impress in practice during the season while the more experienced option works as a fill-in option. Things could change quickly from the presumed depth chart in short order, and Eberflus is not (at least publicly) prepared to declare how the team will proceed at the position to start the year.
“We wanted to secure him in that situation,” he said of Peterman’s release and re-signing. “We don’t know what’s going to happen in the future with who’s going to be up for the game, who’s going to be the backup. We’ll decide that as we go.”
Bagent is a great kid. I wish him the best.
Peterman may be be “great in the room” but he sure isn’t great on the field. I’m not sure why Poles would decisively eat 2 million dollars by cutting Walker and turn around and do the old school thing of handing the B/U job to a guy just because he’s been around awhile. I know Fields likes him but maybe that’s because he’s no threat to him if he goes down with an injury. Bagent, on the other hand, looks like he could actually turn into something special.
I guess because both Walker and Peterman suck. So atleast Peterman knows the offense?
IMO Peterman shouldn’t even be on a NFL roster
Knowing the offense and being successful in that offense are obviously two different things. Peterson has to be the worst QB drawing a paycheck in the NFL (or any other professional league).
The Bears would be wise to emphasis short dump-offs to Moore and stuffing the ball into Herbert’s/Foreman’s/Johnson’s respective guts because while injuries can happen at any time, allowing Fields to run more just hastens the likelihood of Peterman getting on the field.
Bagent’ll be just fine as the #2 by mid season.
Interesting they’ve left open the last practice squad spot while Terrell Lewis remains unsigned. That had to have been an unlucky surprise to get cut a day after making the roster. I’m hoping they can convince him back, they’ll need his ability to pressure the QB.
That decision could really backfire on Poles, jettisoning rush talent when it is the glaring deficit of the entire roster. Hoping he corrects it.
Hey! where are the updates on the Bears mascot competition? I’m hearing rumors that it will be even more exciting.
And Bears Justin Fields is still the worst QB in NFL as Bears continue to draft bad QB after back QB. Chicago fans continue ro slobber over him. CA someone please name their last 3-5 QB’s they drafted…yeah me either
The Bears QB situation is a mess. They should have just let Nathan Peterman go and leave Bagent as the backup. Now they have a terrible first stringer QB, a questionable second string QB, and a really good third string QB who can outplay the previously two I just mentioned. Just more incompetent management decisions.