CANTON — Are you ready for some football?
The 2024 NFL exhibition season started Thursday night at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium where the Chicago Bears played the Houston Texans in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game. The weather, though, caused the game to end earlier than expected and the Bears left with a 21-17 win.
Here's how the evening unfolded through our live score updates, analysis and highlights.
NFL Hall of Fame Game canceled because of severe weather in Canton, Ohio area
The rest of the Pro Football Hall of Fame has been canceled after a 36-minute weather delay. The Bears win 21-17.
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More on Texans-Bears HOF Game:Canton weather wins the night, Hall of Fame game ends early
Third NFL Hall of Fame Game canceled because of severe weather
Tonight marked the third time the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game was canceled because of severe weather.
The 1980 game between the San Diego Chargers and Green Bay Packers ended scoreless with 5:29 left. The Packers were also involved in the 2003 game that ended in the third quarter. The Kansas City Chiefs beat Green Bay 9-0.
The 2011 game between the Bears and St. Louis was canceled because of the NFL lockout. The 2016 game between the Packers and Indianapolis Colts was canceled due to severe weather.
Canton, Ohio weather halts NFL's Hall of Fame Game, suspended because of severe storm
The game was suspended with 3:31 remaining in the third quarter due to severe weather in the area. It started to rain steadily and lightning was spotted in the area. Heavier rain persisted minutes later.
Both teams went to their locker room. Fans were told to see shelter immediately because of approaching severe weather.
Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams knows his time is coming
Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams would have loved to see his first NFL action tonight. The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft knows his time is coming soon.
I told Coach (Matt Eberflus) how exciting it is to be back on the field finally," Williams said in a sideline interview with ESPN's Lisa Salters. "That was just for warmups, let alone just getting out here and playing."
Former Brown Demetric Felton hoping to land a spot in Chicago
In the wake of recent injuries, the Bears signed former Browns running back Demetric Felton earlier this week.
Felton saw action early in the second half. He played with the Cleveland Browns in 2021 and 2022 and was on the Cincinnati Bengals' practice squad last season.
Texans vs. Bears score: Chicago takes its first lead on Brett Rypien's third touchdown pass
Brett Rypien has thrown three touchdown passes.
Collin Johnson has two touchdown catches, the latest one coming from nine yards out.
The Bears have their first lead at 21-17.
Texans hold on to slim lead at halftime
Houston will carry a 17-14 lead into halftime. The Texans have led throughout the night.
Texas vs. Bears score: Chicago quarterback Brett Rypien strikes again late in the first half
Brett Rypien has two touchdown passes on the night. His 22-yard pass to Tommy Sweeney with 44 seconds left in the first half cut the Bears' deficit to 17-14.
Somewhere uncle Mark Rypien beams with pride.
Case Keenum settling back in with Texans
Case Keenum is in his second year in his second stint with the Texans.
The 36-year-old started with Houston in 2013 and bounced around the NFL throughout his career. He also has played with the Rams, Vikings, Broncos, Commanders, Browns and Bills.
Keenum is the Texans' No. 2 quarterback tonight. He threw a 4-yard touchdown pass Cam Akers with 1:44 left in the first half to give Houston a 17-7 lead.
Texans vs. Bears score: Nephew of Super Bowl MVP puts Bears on the board
It has been 32 years since quarterback Mark Rypien led Washington to a win over Buffalo in Super Bowl XXVI. He was voted the game's MVP.
Meet Bears quarterback Brett Rypien, who hopes to follow in the footsteps of his famous uncle. His 20-yard touchdown pass to Collin Johnson cut the Texans' lead to 10-7.
Texans vs. Bears score: Houston increases its lead on Ka'imi Fairbairn field goal
Ka'imi Fairbairn's 33-yard field goal early in the second quarter pushed the Texans in front 10-0.
Houston extended the drive when Dare Ogunbowale caught a 22-yard pass from Davis Mills on third-and-7.
Texans lead 7-0 after one quarter
The first quarter of the NFL season flew by. The Texans will open the second quarter with a third-and-7 at the Bears 37-yard line.
Hey, why not work on special teams?
After driving to the Houston 37-yard and getting called for a false start on fourth-and-1, the Bears chose to ... well ... punt in a preseason game.
Chicago punter Corliss Waitman was at least able to pin the Texans back to their own 11.
Texans vs. Bears score: Houston uses long drive to grab 7-0 lead
Starting in place of former Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud, Davis Mills drove the Texans downfield on the game's opening drive.
Mills' 9-yard touchdown pass to Teagan Quitonario pushed Houston in front 7-0. The Texans drove 69 yards in 16 plays.
A Bears defensive holding penalty on third down extended the drive.
Bears, Texans welcome 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Class
Prior to kickoff, the Bears and Texans formed a guard of honor to welcome members of the 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Class.
With the players standing at their 45-yard lines, each member walked across midfield. The biggest ovations went to former Bears receiver and returner Devin Hester, former Texans receiver Andre Johnson and Misty McMichael, the wife of former Bears defensive lineman Stsve McMichael, who is unable to attend.
No. 1 overall draft pick Caleb Williams out for the Bears
Caleb Williams' first NFL snaps will not be taken in the Hall of Fame Game.
The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner from USC is out tonight. Head coach Matt Eberflus said earlier this week that none of his starters will play.
Even though he is not playing, Williams went through warmups with his teammates prior to kickoff.
Tyson Bagent will start at quarterback for Chicago.
What channel is the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on TV?
ABC and ESPN will televise the game live. The Monday Night Football broadcast team of Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Lisa Salters will call the game. Laura Rutledge will interview this year's Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinees throughout the game.
Canton McKinley graduate Dominque Robinson fighting to make Chicago Bears final roster
Dominique Robinson, a McKinley High School graduate, enters his third season with the Bears looking to solidify his roster spot. The former fifth-round pick out of Miami (Ohio) is listed as second-team defensive end along with Jacob Martin. Montez Sweat and DeMarcus Walker are the starters. Also in the mix is Austin Booker, who the Bears drafted out of Kansas in the fifth round this year.
With Chicago not playing its starters tonight, Robinson, Booker and the rest of the Bears defensive ends should get plenty of opportunities to showcase themselves.
Robinson has played in 28 career games (seven starts), recording 42 tackles (24 solo), two sacks, three tackles for loss, three QB hurries and three passes defensed. But the former 174th overall pick of the 2022 draft produced most of those numbers as a rookie. He played in just 11 games last year with several healthy scratches, totaling 12 tackles, half a sack and one QB hit.
How did the Bears and Texans fare during the 2023 NFL season?
The Bears won five of their last eight games to finish 7-10. They tied for third in the NFC North.
The Texans won the AFC South with a 10-7 record. They beat the Cleveland Browns 45-14 in an AFC wild card game before losing to the Baltimore Ravens 34-10 in the divisional round.
When was the last time the Bears and Texans played in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game?
The Bears lost to the Baltimore Ravens 17-16 in 2018. The defeat came after four straight wins in Canton.
The Texans lost to the New York Giants 34-17 in 2002. It was the first exhibition game of their inaugural season.
Bearssafety to skip Hall of Fame game to support wife —Simone Biles —at Paris Olympics
Bearssafety Jonathan Owens received permission to skip the Hall of Fame Game to take a trip to Paris.
That's where his wife, four-time Olympic champion gymnast Simone Biles, will be competing in the 2024 Olympics.
The team final in women's gymnastics was Tuesday and the all-around final is Thursday, Aug. 1.
Bearshead coach Matt Eberflus said there was no decision to be made.
"We respect the Olympics. That's a big deal," Eberflus said. "He's supporting the one he loves the most. I think that's so cool that he gets to do that, we welcome that and it's going to be awesome."
Owens was granted time off between July 29 and Aug. 3 to head to Paris, missing four practices and the game against the HoustonTexans. He broke into the NFL from Missouri Western with theTexansand met Biles in Houston in 2020.
Owens and Biles married in 2023.
Owens, 29, has played 48 career games with the Texansand Green Bay Packers. He signed a two-year contract with theBearsas an unrestricted free agent.
—Field Level Media
Who are the Class of 2024 Hall of Fame enshrinees?
The Class of 2024 features seven men —Dwight Freeney, Randy Gradishar, Devin Hester, Andre Johnson, Steve McMichael, Julius Peppers and Patrick Willis.
When is the Hall of Fame enshrinement in Canton?
This year's enshrinement is Saturday, Aug. 3, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. The event begins at noon.
Reach Mike at mike.popovich@cantonrep.com
On X: @mpopovichREP
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