CHICAGO — Well before his Chicago Bears took the field for their first preseason game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, new coach Ben Johnson did his best to set the tone. This game, Johnson reminded his players, doesn’t count. But this game certainly matters.

An early August exhibition contest at Soldier Field won’t move the needle much as far as offering true indicators for where the 2025 season might be headed — for the record, Sunday’s affair ended a bit chaotically in a 24-24 tie, the Bears’ first preseason draw since 1973. But that didn’t mean Sunday’s action was meaningless.

Sure, 20 of the 22 players currently listed on the top line of the Bears’ depth chart on offense and defense didn’t play. So the significance of what unfolded at Soldier Field must be framed properly. But Sunday’s game mattered.

It mattered to Austin Booker, the second-year edge rusher who is trying to carve out a role in the defense by showing increased production and consistency. The production came in the form of three sacks, including an impressive forced fumble late in the third quarter that set the Bears up for a 3-yard go-ahead touchdown drive.

On that play, Booker badly beat Dolphins left tackle Kion Smith, then felt his eyes grow wide as quarterback Quinn Ewers continued holding the football as he tried to escape the pocket. With a cheetah-like pounce, Booker hit Ewers from behind and knocked the ball free.

That was another preseason splash from a young player the Bears hope can make a sizable developmental jump this season. “I’m going to keep going out there and doing as much as I can by playing as hard as I can,” Booker said.

On Sunday, his impact was undeniable.

“Literally amazing,” linebacker Noah Sewell said. “Book had himself a day. That boy had a day.”

Sunday mattered to Sewell, too, the Bears linebacker who finished off an encouraging defensive stand down near the goal line in the first quarter. Sewell was involved in five tackles during the Dolphins’ opening drive, including his stop of Jaylen Wright for a 3-yard loss on fourth-and-goal from the 1.

Sewell was a bullet train through the “B” gap on that sequence, drilling Wright immediately as he took the handoff.

“When I saw the gap open up, I shot my shot,” Sewell said. “Really, I blacked out at that moment. It was a good feeling.”

So good that Johnson appeared electrified on the Bears sideline, thrilled with the competitive tenacity of his defense in that moment.

“I thought that was outstanding by that whole crew,” Johnson said. “They came out gassed up and ready to go. … From the entire unit, it was a great way to start the game.”

Sunday’s game also mattered to Tyson Bagent, who took all of 13 snaps and threw only two passes during the 2024 regular season but was given the opportunity to play the entire first half in the preseason game.

“That was a lot of fun,” Bagent said afterward. “The only non-fun part was the start we had. (We) got off to a little slow start but then hit the ground running in the second quarter. So it was definitely as exciting as ever to be out there.”

Sunday offered Bagent another opportunity for growth with the 30 plays he ran and the 19 passes he threw. Among his 13 completions, Bagent delivered a pretty 4-yard touchdown strike in the back of the end zone to Maurice “Hardtime” Alexander in the second quarter. With pressure coming quickly from linebacker Grayson Murphy, Bagent progressed past tight end Durham Smythe as his first read in the left flat, then threw the proverbial “us or nobody” ball to the back of the south end zone for Alexander.

“I saw the safety react just enough (to Smythe) for ‘Hardtime’ to squeeze in behind him,” said Bagent, who threw for 103 yards but also had an interception. “Then I really couldn’t see the rest. I just put it high where only he could get it. And I can’t take any credit for whatever happened after that.”

As for Alexander’s contribution to that clutch fourth-and-goal connection?

“I really just did my job,” he said. “The O-line had great blocking. Tyson threw a great pass. And I made a play when the play was presented. I was just playing football, something I’ve been doing since I was 4 years old. Just trusting my instincts.”

Bagent’s final throw Sunday came with the clock ticking down on the first half, with the Bears taking over possession at their own 48-yard line with 6 seconds remaining after a Zacch Pickens sack created a turnover on downs.

That situation presented opportunity. And the Bears capitalized. A pitch by Bagent. A catch by Luther Burden III across the middle. And then a sprint by the rookie receiver across the sideline, completing the 13-yard gain with one tick left on the clock.

All of that made Sunday matter a little more to kicker Cairo Santos, who finished the first half with a 57-yard field goal.

Santos’ kick was crunched, too, with plenty of room to spare, showcasing some of the improved range he worked to gain over the offseason.

“I was joking with him, ‘We probably didn’t need those extra yards,’” Johnson quipped. “We could have kicked that back up the way he hit that thing.”

Oh, and if you needed another moment to understand just how games like Sunday’s matter to the players competing, go ahead and pull up the 14-yard touchdown connection between Case Keenum and Jahdae Walker.

That was as smooth a completion as you’ll see with a crisp release, incredible touch on the pass and a diving catch.

“I really trust Jahdae from the short time I’ve gotten to know him,” Keenum said. “He played really well today.”

Yes, that was a 37-year-old quarterback who has been in the league since 2012 helping an undrafted 23-year-old rookie out of Texas A&M reach the end zone for the first time in an NFL game. And Keenum was delighted to see the exuberance Walker showed as he bounced up in the end zone and bounded all the way down the Bears sideline in celebration.

“He’s quite the dancer,” Keenum said. “I was about to join in. I just didn’t realize what was going on.”

Once upon a time, 13 Augusts ago, Keenum touched the field for the first time in an NFL preseason game — as an undrafted rookie with the Houston Texans. So his appreciation of Walker and all of Sunday’s other first-timers was heightened.

“I enjoyed that as much as any game I’ve ever played,” Keenum said. “I know it’s preseason. But man, throwing touchdowns and celebrating with your teammates is what it’s all about. It’s so fun.”

With his son and daughter on hand, Keenum said he appreciated the opportunity to continue showing his stuff, too. He also had a 4-yard touchdown pass to running back Deion Hankins. On a personal level, that mattered.

“My kids are here watching me play,” Keenum said. “How awesome is that? Hopefully they’ll remember dad throwing two touchdowns at Soldier Field.”

By day’s end, Johnson left Soldier Field proud of the effort, intensity and chemistry his team showed and with the belief that progress is being made.

So, yes, Sunday mattered. It mattered in ways that aren’t reflected by the 24-24 final score and in ways the outside world may never fully appreciate.

“It’s competition,” Keenum said. “That’s what this locker room is about.”

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