CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Bears backup quarterback Tyson Bagent is available — sort of — for their season opener against the Panthers on Sunday because of a back injury.
Bagent is inactive, leaving veteran Case Keenum as the backup to Caleb Williams, but the Bears designated him as the emergency third quarterback instead of undrafted rookie Miller Moss. Moss was with the team all offseason and joined their practice squad Saturday.
Bagent injured his back in practice this week and was out Thursday and Friday, leading the Bears to list him as questionable on the final injury report. He is eligible to play if both Williams and Keenum leave the game with injuries.
Wide receiver Rome Odunze (calf) is good to go, as he said Friday.
Safety Xavier Woods is out with a groin injury he suffered in practice last week. That puts the Bears in a tough spot as top safety Coby Bryant is out for most or all of the season and the other starter is rookie Dillon Thieneman making his NFL debut. The Bears likely will start Cam Lewis for Woods.
Here are the Bears’ inactives:
QB Tyson Bagent (back)
QB Miller Moss
LT Ozzy Trapilo (knee)
OL Jordan McFadden
DL Jayden Loving
DL Jamree Kromah
S Xavier Woods (groin)