Brett Rypien kicked off the NFL preseason with an impressive display for the Chicago Bears during the Hall of Fame Game, and then made noteworthy comments about his time in Chicago after signing with the Minnesota Vikings.
Rypien was one of the players released by the Bears as they finalized their 53-man roster. He soon signed with the Vikings, where he is currently listed as the third-string quarterback behind Sam Darnold and Nick Mullens.
As Rypien departed Chicago, he was accompanied by the producers of HBO’s “Hard Knocks,” who asked him for his thoughts on the Bears as he prepared to join a major rival.
“The Bears are going to achieve great things this year,” Rypien said. “There are a lot of exceptional people in that organization.”
Rypien now has a better opportunity to play for the Vikings than he did with the Bears.
Rypien was among those standout players after delivering a stellar performance against the Houston Texans on August 1, where he passed for 166 yards and 3 touchdowns on 11-of-15 attempts.
However, as the season progressed, Tyson Bagent emerged as the clear backup behind Caleb Williams, the Bears’ No. 1 overall draft pick in April.
Although the Bears had a spot for Rypien on their practice squad, he ended up joining the Minnesota Vikings instead. There, he secured a roster spot and potentially a better opportunity for meaningful playtime in the upcoming season.
Sam Darnold, the former No. 3 overall pick, has struggled across three teams in his six-year career, but he may have a chance to revive it with the Vikings this year. Nevertheless, his past performances suggest he may still face challenges despite having a talented supporting cast.
Nick Mullens, who has more starting experience than Rypien, has had a somewhat similar career trajectory. Last year with the Vikings, Mullens played in five games, starting three, and threw for 1,306 yards and 7 touchdowns, but also had 8 interceptions and an 0-3 record.
In comparison, Rypien’s career record stands at 2-2 as a starter over 10 regular-season games, with 950 passing yards, 4 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions, according to Pro Football Reference.
Meanwhile, in Chicago, the Bears are gearing up for Caleb Williams’ debut as a professional.
The 22-year-old quarterback is set to start his first game at home against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, September 8. He discussed the upcoming challenge with the media on Wednesday.
“We’re not concerned with guessing what plays they might or might not use,” Williams said, according to Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic. “They have strong players on their side like Landry, Simmons (98), Sneed, and Diggs from Seattle. … At noon on Sunday, we’ll see their actual game plan.”
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