Bears Cut Long Snapper After 10 Penalties and 2 Turnovers in 9-3 Vikings Loss
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Sep 23
Bears Cut Long Snapper After 10 Penalties and 2 Turnovers in 9-3 Vikings Loss
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Sep 23
Summary
Chicago moved quickly after Sunday’s 9-3 loss, cutting rookie long snapper Beau Gardner and re-signing veteran Scott Daly after a shaky snap and protection helped set up a blocked 23-yard field-goal try.
Ten penalties, eight accepted, and two turnovers drove the defeat, including a second-quarter sequence that cost 33 yards in 1:02 and turned a red-zone chance into a punt.
D’Andre Swift’s goal-line fumble and Caleb Williams’ early interception wasted scarce scoring chances, while the Bears defense failed to produce a takeaway despite holding Minnesota to nine points.
Minnesota’s late 11-play, 67-yard drive drained 5:12 and left Tyson Bagent—starting Week 3 after Williams’ hamstring injury—with 1 minute and no timeouts for the final possession.
Ben Johnson called the mistakes self-inflicted and fixable, but the 1-1 Bears now trail the Vikings in the NFC North entering Monday night’s game against Philadelphia.