Rypien throws 3 TDs, Bears win storm-shortened Hall of Fame Game - ESPN

CANTON, Ohio — While Caleb Williams, C.J. Stroud and other starters from both teams watched from the sideline, the NFL's new kickoffs didn't provide any 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's exhibition opener was stopped with 3:31 left in the third quarter and was called off after a 36-minute delay.

All eyes were on the NFL's radical new kickoffs rule at the start. The league dramatically redesigned the play, aiming to revive it after a record-low returns last season.

None of the eight kickoffs were returned beyond the 32. Three were brought back to the 26, a yard farther than the old touchback. There was one touchback that 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 is drastically different. It's so much faster.»

Tyson Bagent started for Williams, the No. 1 overall pick who has enormous expectations in Chicago. Davis Mills was under 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 Johnson and 22 yards to Tommy Sweeney. Rypien, who was 2-2 as a starter in four seasons with the Broncos and Rams, entered camp as the third-string QB.

«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 [on 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,