CANTON, Ohio – As Caleb Williams, CJ Stroud and other starters from both teams watched from the sideline, the NFL’s new kickoffs provided no excitement.
Brett Rypien stole the show before lightning and heavy rain ended the game early.
The veteran quarterback threw three touchdown passes, leading the Chicago Bears to a 21-17 victory over the Houston Texans on Thursday night in the Hall of Fame Game.
The NFL exhibition opener was interrupted with 3:31 left in the third quarter and was canceled after a 36-minute delay.
All eyes were on the NFL radically new kickoffs rule at the beginning. The league has dramatically redesigned the game, aiming to revive it after a record return last season.
None of the eight kickoffs were returned beyond the 32. Three were brought back to the 26th, one meter beyond the old touchback. There was a touchback that went for 30.
Tyson Bagent started at Williams, the No. 1 overall pick who has huge expectations in Chicago. Davis Mills was at center instead of Stroud, the 2023 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Rypien finished 11 of 15 for 166 yards with TD passes of 20 and 9 yards to Collin Johnson and 22 yards to Tommy Sweeney. Rypien, who had a 2-2 record as a starter in four seasons with the Broncos and Rams, entered camp as a third-string QB.
Mills, who was 5-19-1 as a starter the two seasons before Stroud’s arrival, finished 10 of 13 for 102 yards and a 9-yard TD pass to Teagan Quitoriano to cap the opening drive.
Veteran Case Keenum threw a 4-yard TD pass to Cam Akers to give the Texans a 17-7 lead late in the second half.
Rypien led the Bears on a 72-yard drive in just 58 seconds in the final minutes of the first half. His TD pass to Sweeney cut it to 17-14. He put the Bears ahead with a 9-yard scoring strike to Johnson in the third.
Houston’s Steven Sims fielded Cairo Santos’ opening kickoff at the 5 and ran 21 yards before being tackled at the 26. After the Texans scored, Chicago’s Tyler Scott caught Ka’imi Fairbairn’s opening kickoff at the 7 and returned 19 yards at the 26.
Touchbacks used to result in the attack from the 25 onwards.
Scott threw the third kickoff a yard deep in the end zone and chose to return it rather than throw a touchback. He was tackled at the 20. The Bears were penalized for leaving early — only the two returners and the kicker can move until the ball is caught — but the Texans refused.
The Texans were first in the AFC South last year behind rookie coach DeMeco Ryans, Stroud and defensive rookie of the year Will Anderson Jr. Houston finished with 11 wins, advancing to the divisional round of the playoffs.
The Bears hope to make a similar jump from 7-10 into the playoffs after drafting Williams first, adding wide receiver Rome Odunze with the ninth pick and revamping the roster in free agency.
HEALTHY CAM
Akers showed quickness on a 14-yard catch that preceded his TD reception. He also ran for 13 yards on five carries. Akers is trying to return to the Texans after his season ended early last season after he ruptured his Achilles tendon for the second time in three years.
TYSON’S TIME
Bagent, who went from undrafted rookie out of Division II powerhouse Shepherd University to 2-2 as a starter replacing Justin Fields last season, played in just one series. He completed 2 of 3 passes before Rypien took over.
HALL OF FAME FIRST
Many of the Bears and Texans fans in the crowd came out to see two of their favorites don the gold jackets on Saturday afternoon.
Devin Hester, the dynamic playmaker who returned a league-record 14 punts for touchdowns and five more kickoffs for scores during an 11-year career spent mostly with Chicago, will be the first pure returner inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Seven-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Andre Johnson will be the first member of the Texans inducted.
Hester and Johnson received the biggest applause before the game when the Class of 2024 was inducted.
Popular Bears great Steve McMichael, who was unable to attend his inauguration because he is in the advanced stages of ALS, was represented by his wife, Misty.
___
This story originally appeared on ABCNews.go.com read the full story
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24016885/STK093_Google_04.jpg?w=300&resize=300,300&ssl=1 "Google Wallet can create digital passes for almost anything now")
