Bears' quarterback shuffle: 38-year-old Case Keenum to start over recovered Tyson Bagent vs. Eagles
Ahead of Monday Night Football against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Chicago Bears will start third-string quarterback Case Keenum, even though backup Tyson Bagent has cleared the concussion protocol.
Background
The Chicago Bears entered a chaotic quarterback situation ahead of their Week 3 game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Starter Caleb Williams suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain late in the Bears' 9-3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, an injury DAZN reports is expected to sideline him for three to four weeks. Williams' replacement in that game, Tyson Bagent, was driven to the ground by Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel and suffered a concussion.
The starter decision
According to Fox Sports insider Jay Glazer, whose report was relayed by NBC Sports, Bleeding Green Nation and DAZN, Bagent cleared the concussion protocol over the weekend and is technically available to play. Nonetheless, the Bears will start their third-string quarterback, 38-year-old Case Keenum, on Monday night. NBC Sports explains the reasoning: Bagent spent most of the week in the protocol and wasn't able to sufficiently participate in game planning. DAZN adds that Keenum was the only quarterback on the 53-man roster to practice every day leading into Week 3. Should Keenum struggle, Bagent could still be used in relief.
Both quarterbacks would be making their first appearance in this role since 2023. Keenum last started that season for the Houston Texans, going 1-1 while throwing for 291 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions, and hasn't thrown a regular-season pass since December 24, 2023, against the Kansas City Chiefs. Bagent, as an undrafted rookie in 2023, went 2-2 across five appearances, passing for 859 yards with three touchdowns and six interceptions. More recently, filling in for Williams against the Vikings, he completed 5 of 9 passes for 54 yards over two fourth-quarter drives.
What to expect
Whoever starts will face a tough test: the Eagles' pass defense ranks fifth in the NFL through two weeks. The Bears, however, boast the league's top-ranked rushing offense and could target Philadelphia's 23rd-ranked run defense using D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai. In the passing game, Chicago still has playmakers available in Colston Loveland, Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III. Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, per Bleeding Green Nation, said his unit is preparing for the Bears' entire offensive scheme regardless of which quarterback takes the snaps. Kickoff is set for Monday at 8:15 p.m. ET.
