The most surprising fact here is that the Baltimore Ravens are actively begging the Chicago Bears for a backup quarterback they already rejected all summer. This comes after a disaster on Sunday that left the two-time MVP Lamar Jackson unable to play.
The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero wrote on his official X account that “Ravens QB Lamar Jackson needs surgery on his thumb and is going on injured reserve.” ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirmed the same news. The injury will require surgery and a stint on the injured reserve list, potentially ending Jackson’s season.
The Familiarity Factor
The Ravens are not just looking for any warm body; they want a player who knows their new playbook. Their offensive coordinator, Declan Doyle, ran the same system with the Bears last season. Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio proposed a trade on Sunday night that would see the Ravens send a draft pick to the Chicago Bears for backup quarterback Tyson Bagent, who worked with Doyle in Chicago. “There is that familiarity there with Doyle and Tyson Bagent,” Florio said. “But that trade would be really hard to pull off at this point.”
Bagent is a 26-year-old who signed a two-year, $10 million deal in 2025. He started two games this season when Caleb Williams was out, but his stats were rough with three interceptions and no touchdowns in three games. Despite the poor numbers, Doyle praised him last season, calling him “very businesslike” and noting he “sees the game pretty clearly.” The Ravens need someone who can step in immediately for their Thursday night game or after a mini-bye, and Bagent fits that specific need.
Why Chicago Says No
Even though Baltimore is desperate, the Bears have no intention of selling. LaCanfora added that the Bears have been rejecting any offers for Bagent through the summer, as there’s belief he’s a valuable backup in Ben Johnson’s offense. One NFL GM told LaCanfora that “Chicago doesn’t have to trade him. They like him … Wonder how hard they squeeze (Ravens GM Eric) DeCosta?” The Bears could ride out the rest of the season with Case Keenum as the backup and look to draft a younger QB later.
After Huntley was injured, the Ravens gave undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano a chance, but he completed only 10 of his 21 passes for 91 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. That performance showed why Baltimore is panicked. If Chicago refuses to move Bagent, the Ravens might have to target Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett instead. The trade deadline is November 10, giving both teams a few days to see if a deal can be made.
