Tyson Bagent expected to be Chicago Bears starting QB today in New York Jets game; NY without Breece Hall, 3 more on offense

CHICAGO — Running back Breece Hall is among four Jets starters on offense who were ruled out Friday to play in New York’s game Sunday at Chicago.

Hall, dealing with a quadriceps injury, will miss the game, along with wide receiver Adonai Mitchell (finger), tight end Mason Taylor (thumb) and left guard Dylan Parham (knee). Linebacker Kiko Mauigoa will also be out with a quadriceps injury.

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The injuries leave the Jets (1-2) a bit short-handed on an offense that will likely need to keep pace against the Bears (2-1), who rank third in the NFL in total yards, first in rushing and fifth in points per game.

The Bears are expected to start Tyson Bagent at quarterback against the Jets, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

While coach Ben Johnson did not publicly disclose who would start in place of Caleb Williams in Week 4, sources told Rapoport that Bagent took the majority of first-team reps at practice during the week. Case Keenum will serve as Bagent’s backup against the Jets.

Williams was ruled out for a second straight game as he recovers from a Grade 2 hamstring strain. His recovery timeline is expected to be three to four weeks, according to Rapoport and ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

And Bears left tackle Braxton Jones has been placed on injured reserve after sustaining an injury to his right knee against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3.

Jones was classified as “week-to-week” and did not practice ahead of the Bears’ Week 4 matchup with the Jets. He is eligible to return on Nov. 2 at Seattle.

Theo Benedet, who spent the first three weeks in a rotation with Jones, will start at left tackle, per Johnson.

Sunday could be the first time this season that Ozzy Trapilo is active for a game. Trapilo, who started six games at left tackle for Chicago as a rookie last season, worked his way back from a ruptured patellar tendon this offseason far sooner than the Bears had anticipated but was inactive against the Panthers, Vikings and Eagles.

“We’re still working out Ozzy just to make sure that the confidence is back,” Johnson said. “He’s looking better each and every week. He was one of those guys in Wednesday night’s practice in pads. He stood out in a good way.”

Meanwhile, New York is 13th in total yards and Geno Smith is off to a solid start with four touchdown passes, no interceptions and an NFL-leading 75.5% completion rate, the highest by a Jets quarterback through Week 3 in franchise history with a minimum of three starts.

Hall and Parham were injured in the Jets’ loss last Sunday at Detroit, while Mitchell and Taylor will sit out for the second game in a row.

Coach Aaron Glenn has said Hall, the Jets’ leading rusher, would be “week to week” after he was hurt early in the fourth quarter when he went down while being forced out of bounds after running for no gain.

Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis are expected to assume the bulk of Hall’s carries out of the backfield. Kene Nwangwu, who’s also one of the team’s primary kick returners, is on track to make his season debut after missing the first three games with a back ailment.

Mitchell had his hand wrapped late last week after he hurt a finger during practice and was scratched from the game at Detroit. He has been serving as the Jets’ No. 2 wide receiver behind Garrett Wilson and has nine catches for 123 yards.

With rookie Omar Cooper Jr. and veteran Tim Patrick on injured reserve, the Jets added Malik McClain and Jamaal Pritchett to the active roster last week and signed vets Sterling Shepard and Tyler Johnson to the practice squad. Shepard was elevated to the active roster last week and had a 3-yard reception and caught a 2-point conversion pass.

Taylor’s injury leaves the Jets without another pass catcher, but they also have rookie Kenyon Sadiq, Jeremy Ruckert, Jelani Woods and Andrew Beck at the tight end spot. Sadiq (back) was listed as questionable for the game, while Ruckert (knee) was taken off the injury report after fully participating. Sadiq, a first-round pick in April, had a breakout game last Sunday with seven catches for 105 yards and a touchdown.

Parham is expected to be replaced at left guard by Jordan Meredith, who came in for him last week when he went down in the third quarter. The Jets also signed Kohl Levao from the practice squad.

Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick will play after injuring his groin in the season opener. He was a full participant in practice Thursday for the first time since his injury and removed from the injury report Friday.

Edge rusher Kingsley Enagbare is questionable to play with what Glenn said is a tweaked knee. He was limited at practice Friday, a day after sitting out.

ESPN contributed to this report.

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