Chicago Bears vs. New Orleans Saints: Live updates from the Caesars Superdome

NEW ORLEANS – The Bears return to action Sunday with a matchup against the New Orleans Saints at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.

Bears backup quarterback Tyson Bagent is likely to make his third consecutive start. Justin Fields returned to practice on Friday, but still seems like a long shot to play in this game. Friday was the first time Fields had thrown a football in 19 days.

Bears head coach Matt Eberflus and his team will look to rebound from a primetime loss to the Los Angeles Chargers last week. The Bears will also have to figure out how to work in new addition Montez Sweat. The Bears traded for the former Commanders pass rusher at the trade deadline Tuesday.

Shaw Local Bears beat writer Sean Hammond is in New Orleans for Sunday’s game. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @sean_hammond, on Instagram at @bears_reporter and on Threads at @bears_reporter. Shaw Local Bears analyst Marc Silverman will provide his thoughts on X at @WaddleandSilvy.

Below is everything Bears fans need to know ahead of the game. Stay here all game long, too, for live updates throughout the afternoon.

Saints win, 24-17

The Saints closed out a win over the Bears, 24-17. The Bears turned the ball over five times. Tyson Bagent threw three interceptions and fumbled once.

Saints field goal is no good; Bagent fumbles

After Tyson Bagent’s third interception, the Saints had the chance to push their lead to two possessions, but kicker Blake Grupe missed a 47-yard field goal try.

It gave the Bears life. The Bears took over at their own 37-yard line, down by seven points, with just over two minutes remaining in the game.

It was, however, short lived. On second-and-20 (thanks to a penalty), the Saints sacked Bagent and knocked the football free. Saints linebacker Pete Werner picked up the fumble. It marked Bagent’s fourth turnover of the game and the fifth total for the Bears.

Bagent picked off for 3rd time

After a Tyson Bagent interception, the Saints drove into the red zone, but their possession stalled out. They went for it on fourth-and-inches and couldn’t pick up a first down. Instead of trying a field goal that could’ve made it a two-possession game, New Orleans turned it over on downs at the Bears’ 17-yard line.

The Bears converted on a third-and-long with a completion to tight end Cole Kmet to pick up one first down, but the drive ended quickly. Tyson Bagent threw his third interception of the game, this time on third-and-10 on a pass intended for Tyler Scott.

Bagent throws his 2nd interception

Moments after the Saints took the lead, Bears quarterback Tyson Bagent threw an interception on a pass intended for receiver Darnell Mooney. Saints safety Marcus Maye made a nice play on the ball, jumping the route and picking off the pass.

The Saints took over in Bears territory, already leading by a touchdown.

Saints TE Taysom Hill throws touchdown pass

The Bears punted from deep in their own territory, which gave the Saints great field possession early in the fourth quarter. The Saints drove 47 yards in a matter of minutes to take the lead.

On first-and-goal from the 3-yard line, the Saints sent in their jumbo package with tight end Taysom Hill taking the direct snap. Hill dropped back to pass and threw a touchdown to tight end Juwan Johnson.

The Saints took the lead, 24-17, with 11:05 remaining in the game.

Santos ties up the game

The Bears took off eight minutes of game time and drove 62 yards for a field goal. Cairo Santos made the 31-yard try, tying the game, 17-17, with 3:27 to go in the third quarter.

On the previous play, Tyson Bagent tried to hit receiver DJ Moore in the end zone. Moore was covered by two defenders and still almost made the catch. Instead, the ball fell incomplete and the Bears were forced to kick a field goal.

DJ Moore loses fumble; Saints take lead

The Bears defense came up with a stop on the first possession after halftime. When the Bears took over, though, a turnover gave the ball right back to the Saints.

Tyson Bagent connected with receiver DJ Moore, who was wide open over the middle, for an 11-yard gain and what would’ve been a first down. As Moore fought for more yardage, the ball popped loose and the Saints jumped on it.

It led to a 55-yard field goal from Saints’ kicker Blake Grupe. The Saints took their first lead of the game, 17-14, with 11:43 to go in the third quarter.

Cairo Santos’ 40-yard field goal try hits upright

The Bears were trying to add some points and take the lead before halftime, but their possession stalled out in Saints territory. Kicker Cairo Santos had a 40-yard field goal try that hit the upright and was no good.

It marked Santos’ first missed field goal try all season. He had made all 11 of his previous field goal tries.

The Saints ran out the clock on the first half. At the break, the game is tied, 14-14.

Bears quarterback Tyson Bagent is 10-for-13 passing for 149 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He also has 60 rushing yards on six attempts. Receiver Darnell Mooney has 70 yards on four catches. Tight end Cole Kmet caught both Bears touchdowns.

Carr connects with Hill for Saints’ touchdown

Saints quarterback Derek Carr connected with do-it-all tight end Taysom Hill for a 2-yard touchdown. The score evened up the game, 14-14, with 6:05 to go in the second quarter. The Saints drove 75 yards in 6:47.

The Saints converted three third-down attempts on the possession. They are 5-for-6 on third down against the Bears’ defense so far.

Cole Kmet scores again

On first-and-goal from the 9, Bears QB Tyson Bagent faked the handoff on a run-pass option, pulled the ball from his running back and tossed a 9-yard touchdown to tight end Cole Kmet. It marked Kmet’s second score of the game.

Just moments before, Bagent scrambled for an 12-yard gain and a first down with a diving effort. Initially, the referees ruled Bagent short of the line to gain, but the Bears challenged the spot and won the challenge.

Bagent threw the touchdown on the very next play.

Chris Olave scores Saints’ first touchdown

Following a Tyson Bagent interception, the Saints drove 45 yards on 10 plays to score a touchdown and even the game up, 7-7, with 44 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Quarterback Derek Carr threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to receiver Chris Olave on third-and-goal for the Saints.

The Saints converted twice on third down during the possession, including the touchdown pass.

Bagent throws interception

The Bears defense came up with a stop on its first possession, but the offense couldn’t take advantage of it. Tyson Bagent threw an interception on a second-and-15 play near midfield.

Bagent targeted tight end Cole Kmet, who was running a comeback route. But the Saints sat back in coverage and cornerback Paulson Adebo made a play on the ball. The Saints took over in Bears territory.

Cole Kmet with impressive touchdown grab

The Bears won the coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff. Tyson Bagent made a couple of impressive throws on the opening possession, connecting with receiver Darnell Mooney and DJ Moore along the way. Bagent even ran for a first down himself on a fourth-and-1 play in New Orleans territory.

On first-and-10 at the New Orleans 18-yard line, Bagent threw a pass toward the corner of the end zone where tight end Cole Kmet looked bottled up against safety Tyrann Mathieu.

Kmet made an acrobatic play in the air to grab the football, despite tight coverage from Mathieu. It went for an 18-yard touchdown and the first score of the game. The Bears took a lead, 7-0, early in the first quarter.

Bears announce inactive players

Quarterback Justin Fields officially will not start Sunday. He has been ruled inactive. Quarterbacks Tyson Bagent and Nathan Peterman were spotted throwing with the receivers during pregame warmups, but Fields was not.

Other inactives for the Bears on Sunday are cornerback Terell Smith, right guard Nate Davis, safety Jaquan Brisker, linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and defensive end Dominique Robinson.

What’s the latest on Justin Fields?

Fields is nearing a return. He practiced Friday for the first time since dislocating his right thumb on Oct. 15. He went 19 days without throwing a football, allowing his thumb to rest and regain strength.

Fields is officially listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game, and Eberflus characterized it on Friday as a “51%” chance that Fields sits out. Fields playing though, seems far more unlikely than the head coach indicated Friday. Earlier in the week, Eberflus declared Bagent as the starter in this game. Presumably, Bagent took all the first-team reps in practice when Fields sat out practice on Wednesday and Thursday.

It seems much more likely that Fields waits to return until Thursday’s matchup against the Carolina Panthers or a Nov. 19 matchup with the Lions.

Bagent is likely to make his third start. He’s 1-1 since taking over as the starter with a win over the Raiders and a loss to the Chargers.

Other injury news

Safety Jaquan Brisker (concussion), offensive lineman Nate Davis (ankle), linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (knee) and cornerback Terell Smith (illness) have already been ruled out of Sunday’s game.

The Bears activated left tackle Braxton Jones (neck) from injured reserve on Saturday, a sign that Jones will likely return to the starting lineup. In doing so, they waived second-year center Doug Kramer. Jones is officially listed as questionable for Sunday’s game.

Safety Eddie Jackson (foot) holds no injury designation and is expected to return to action.

For the Saints, running back Kendre Miller (illness) and defensive tackle Malcolm Roach (illness) are questionable to play. Linebacker Ty Summers (concussion/hamstring) has been ruled out.

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Who’s the new guy?

The Bears made a splash move at the trade deadline Tuesday when they sent a second-round draft pick to the Washington Commanders in exchange for defensive end Montez Sweat.

On Saturday, the Bears cemented Sweat’s future in Chicago by signing him to a four-year, $98 million contract extension.

Sweat will wear No. 98 and is expected to make his Bears debut Sunday. It’s unclear how many snaps he will see, but it’s far easier to integrate a pass rusher into a new scheme than say a wide receiver or an offensive lineman.

Sweat should raise the level of the entire Bears defense. General manager Ryan Poles hopes that Sweat will be the pass rusher who the Bears have been missing. He wouldn’t have traded a high draft pick or committed $98 million to Sweat if he didn’t believe in him.

What else did I miss this week?

Here’s what else was happening at Halas Hall this week.

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