6 Bears players to watch during Hall of Fame game

The calendar has turned to August, and the first NFL game of the 2024 season is upon us. There is no doubt football is in the air. The preseason kicks off on Thursday night with the Hall of Fame game, featuring the Chicago Bears and the Houston Texans in Canton, Ohio. As is normally the case with the Hall of Fame game, neither team starters will dress, and instead, backups and third-stringers will take the reps.

Seeing as it's the first game of the year and no stars will be involved, it could make for a rather dull viewing experience for the casual NFL fan. Not for Bears fans though. There are plenty of players to keep an eye on, whether they're rising rookies or veterans who are suddenly fighting for a job. Here are a few players to watch when the Bears and Texans kick off from Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN.

QB Tyson Bagent

If you missed "Bagent Mania" from last season, you're in for a treat. Tyson Bagent is set to get the start on Thursday, with Caleb Williams being held out. Bagent held onto the backup quarterback job this offseason as the Bears opted not to bring in a veteran like Ryan Tannehill or other former starters to play behind Williams. He should see a few series and will have multiple chances to show how much he grinded his face off, as he eloquently put it last weekend.

WR Tyler Scott

For having such a dynamic trio of wide receivers, no one saw Tyler Scott standing above them for a good chunk of camp. But that's exactly what happened, as Scott has made play after play with Williams. Now, he will get the chance to do it during a game, as DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, and even Rome Odunze are all likely to sit out.

Scott was almost a nonfactor in last year's preseason, catching 1 pass for 9 yards. His regular season wasn't much better, as he had just 17 receptions for 168 yards. This is a great opportunity to get off on the right foot. He may not play for long, but someone needs to catch the ball, and Scott is the best option.

WR Velus Jones

Will Velus Jones see plenty of snaps on offense? That's to be determined. But chances are he will be the team's primary kick returner, and that should be an interesting site. Jones' career has been marred by inconsistency and unreliability up to this point. There is still hope for his future, though, and it starts with the new kickoff rules.

The NFL adopted a new kickoff that deters touchbacks. Jones' big frame and lightning speed make him an ideal returner, and fans will see the new format in an NFL game for the first time. For Jones' sake, hopefully he can show promise at the position. It will probably determine his future with the Bears. It would be fitting, after all, given that Bears legend Devin Hester is being enshrined in the Hall of Fame just two days later.

OL Bill Murray

Bill Murray, the actor, has a resume that is Hall of Fame-worthy. Bill Murray, the offensive lineman, isn't quite there, but he'll see the bulk of snaps at guard during the Hall of Fame game and could turn some heads. He's already earned the praise from head coach Matt Eberflus, and given the Bears are dealing with injury concerns regarding Nate Davis, a good showing could move him up the depth chart. Keep an eye out for No. 60 when the Bears are on offense.

DE Austin Booker

Williams and Odunze will not suit up and offensive lineman Kiran Amegadjie is still on the non-football injury (NFI list), meaning Austin Booker is the only rookie draft pick on offense or defense to see snaps. Booker has impressed early on at camp with his lengthy frame and has bested a few of the Bears tackles. Now let's see how he does going up against different competition.

Booker is still a raw player, seeing as he had just one productive season in college. He's hungry to show what he can do and could surprise some people. Don't be surprised to see him have a big night rushing the quarterback.

CB Reddy Steward

The Bears made a surprising move to begin the week, moving undrafted rookie cornerback Reddy Steward to a starting spot in Kyler Gordon's absence. Steward had himself a day last Friday with an interception on Williams and seemed to earn more playing time. The former Troy standout now has a chance to elevate himself even more on Thursday if he has a big performance against the Texans backup receivers.

Steward is still a longshot to make the team in arguably the deepest position group. Still, if he shows versatility in the secondary and continues to make plays, the front office will be hard-pressed to let him go. This could be the start of something special for Steward.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 6 Bears players to watch during Hall of Fame game