LAKE FOREST, Ill. (104.3 The Score) – The Bears are preparing 38-year-old veteran Case Keenum to start at quarterback against the Eagles on Monday Night Football, though the team remains uncertain about who will ultimately be under center.
A third-stringer, Keenum was the Bears’ lone healthy quarterback on the active roster as of Wednesday afternoon. Starter Caleb Williams suffered a hamstring injury in Chicago’s 9-3 loss to Minnesota on Sunday and isn’t expected to practice this week, though he hasn’t been ruled out of the next game yet. Backup Tyson Bagent, who entered in place of Williams on Sunday, has entered the NFL’s concussion protocol after experiencing symptoms. He wasn’t present at Halas Hall on Wednesday.
With Williams and Bagent both sidelined, the 14-year veteran Keenum is in line to make his 67th career NFL start – and his first since 2023. The Bears have no concerns if they have to turn to Keenum, Johnson said.
"He's been a baller from I think the day that he was born, from what I can tell,” Johnson said. “He's got that way about him. He's got a knack, his teammates gravitate to him.
“In a lot of ways, he might be a step slower than when he first entered the league, and yet his mind is going so fast, it helps catch him on up. He's playing as good of football as he probably has his whole career is what he would tell you.”
Keenum has been with the Bears since last season. The Bears believed he would be a key sounding board in the quarterbacks room alongside Williams and Bagent, and he has been a good mentor as they hoped. While the Bears have used Keenum in preseason games, he hasn’t yet taken a snap for the team in a regular-season game. That’s likely to change Monday night.
The Bears are using a cautious approach with Williams, who suffered his injury in the fourth quarter Sunday and was carted to the locker room, but they also don’t want to set limits on how fast he could return. So for now, that means leaving the door open for him to play against the Eagles – even without a snap under his belt in practice this week.
Williams is present with the Bears alongside Keenum, helping out as the team builds out its game plan.
"He’s a competitor, he wants to be out there on the grass going full speed,” Johnson said. “So, it is a little bit more challenging to hold a guy back like that. But if you could build a player, that’s what you would want him to be like."
A four-year NFL veteran, Bagent was 5-of-9 for 54 yards in relief of Williams on Sunday. He nearly led the Bears on a comeback in the final minute but was sacked as time expired in this loss after Chicago had driven to the Minnesota 12-yard line. Johnson wasn’t certainy when Bagent suffered his concussion.
The Bears will also likely be without starting cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, who’s considered week-to-week with a hamstring injury. The team has welcomed back defensive lineman Shemar Turner (knee) and linebacker Noah Sewell (knee) to practice after each opened the season on the physically-unable-to-perform list. Nickelback Kyler Gordon (calf) won’t have his practice window opened Wednesday as he remains on the PUP list.
“I’ve got nothing to add there,” Johnson said of Gordon’s status.
The Bears will issue a full injury report Thursday, which is an off day for players.
Chris Emma covers the Bears and the Chicago sports scene for 104.3 The Score.
