Tyson Bagent and the Bears travel to Southern California to face the reeling Los Angeles Chargers Sunday night. Chicago (2-5) has won two of three since a 14-game losing streak while Los Angeles (2-4) has dropped two straight.
Bagent - who went 21 of 29 for 162 yards a touchdown in last week's 30-12 win over the Raiders - gets the start again with Justin Fields sidelined due to a dislocated thumb. He will face a Chargers defense ranked last against the pass at 310 yards per game.
Chicago has not won two straight since the 2021 regular-season finale, while Los Angeles is looking to avoid its first three-game skid since 2020.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is looking to rebound after struggling in his last two starts, during which he has completed only 58.3% of his passes with three touchdowns and three interceptions.
Herbert, who is still dealing with a broken middle finger on his left, non-throwing hand, will face a Bears defense that is allowing the league's fourth-most passing yards at 257.1 per game.
The Bears have gone with six different combinations on their offensive line. And it looks like things could be in flux again.
That’s because right tackle Darnell Wright missed practice Wednesday with a shoulder injury that he tried to play through last week as well as a toe issue. Chicago also opened the 21-day window on Wednesday for starting left tackle Braxton Jones (neck) to return from injured reserve.
The line actually had one of its best performances last week, giving up just two sacks after allowing 25 in the first six games. The Bears had Cody Whitehair at left guard after Lucas Patrick replaced him at center during the Week 6 loss to Minnesota and moved Teven Jenkins to right guard from the left side.
If they stuck with that arrangement, they could have more juggling to do when right guard Nate Davis - out for the second week in a row - returns from a high ankle sprain.
Linebacker Khalil Mack faces the Bears for the first time since he was traded to the Chargers last March. The last time Mack faced one of his former teams who was starting a rookie quarterback, he set a franchise record for sacks in a game.
Mack spent four seasons with the Bears (2018-21). He is tied for the fourth-most sacks in the league with seven.
Bears running back D’Onta Foreman is taking advantage of his opportunity with Khalil Herbert (ankle) on injured reserve and rookie Roschon Johnson (concussion) sidelined the past two games.
The sixth-year pro ran for 89 yards on 16 attempts last week and tied a career-high with three touchdowns - his first as a member of the Bears. He ran for two and caught a TD pass.
Foreman, who signed with Chicago in the offseason, had 65 yards on 15 carries against Minnesota.
