While Caleb Williams, C.J. Stroud, and other starters from both teams watched from the sideline, the new kickoff rules in the NFL didn’t create much excitement. Brett Rypien took the spotlight before lightning and heavy rain cut the game short.
The veteran quarterback threw three touchdown passes, leading the Chicago Bears to a 21-17 win over the Houston Texans on Thursday night in the Hall of Fame game.
The NFL’s first preseason game was halted with 3:31 left in the third quarter and was eventually called off after a 36-minute delay.
The new kickoff rule was a big focus at the start. The league had redesigned the play to try to bring more excitement, as returns had been at a record low last season.
None of the eight kickoffs were returned past the 32-yard line. Three were brought out to the 26, which is a yard farther than the old touchback spot. One touchback came out to the 30.
“You never know until you come in the game and play,” said Bears wide receiver Collin Johnson, who made a tackle on the opening kickoff. “The speed and timing are drastically different. It’s so much faster.”
Tyson Bagent started in place of Williams, the No. 1 overall pick who has high expectations in Chicago. Davis Mills played instead of Stroud, the 2023 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Rypien completed 11 of 15 passes for 166 yards with touchdown throws of 20 and 9 yards to Johnson and 22 yards to Tommy Sweeney. Rypien, who was 2-2 as a starter in four seasons with the Broncos and Rams, began camp as the third-string quarterback.
“This one meant a lot to me,” Rypien said. “I had a bad taste in my mouth all offseason after my last start in Green Bay (last Nov. 5). I didn’t know how this season would go, didn’t know if I’d get a chance to compete for anything.”
Mills, who was 5-19-1 as a starter in the two seasons before Stroud arrived, went 10 of 13 for 102 yards and threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Teagan Quitoriano to end the opening drive.
Veteran Case Keenum threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Cam Akers, giving the Texans a 17-7 lead late in the second half.
