The Chicago Bears will face the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football without Caleb Williams, leaving the team to turn to one of its backup quarterbacks for the Week 3 matchup.
Tyson Bagent suffered a concussion in last week's game against the Vikings. (Getty Images via AFP)
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Although Tyson Bagent entered the season as Chicago's No. 2 quarterback, the Bears have opted to start veteran Case Keenum against the Eagles.
Why is Tyson Bagent not starting tonight?
The starting job had been a competition between Bagent and Keenum throughout the week, with Keenum ultimately getting the nod.
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Bagent looked like the obvious option to step in for Williams, but his recent injury may have played a role in the Bears' decision. The 26-year-old suffered a concussion in last week's game and was limited in his participation during Chicago's practices throughout the week.
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Bagent looked like the obvious option to step in for Williams, but his recent injury may have played a role in the Bears' decision. The 26-year-old suffered a concussion in last week's game and was limited in his participation during Chicago's practices throughout the week.
Even though Bagent has since cleared the concussion protocol, Keenum handled most of the team's preparation and was therefore chosen to start in Week 3. Bagent will remain available as Chicago's backup against the Eagles.
Bears adjust around Keenum
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Ben Johnson is expected to adjust the Bears' offensive approach around Keenum's abilities, which could limit some of the potential Chicago would have with Williams at quarterback.
The 38-year-old has not started an NFL game since the 2023 season, when he made two starts for the Houston Texans.
His start against Philadelphia will also represent the seventh different NFL team he has started for. Keenum's most recent start came on Dec. 24, 2023, when Houston faced Cleveland, meaning 1,009 days will have passed since he last opened an NFL game.
With such a long gap between starts, there is plenty of uncertainty surrounding what he can produce. Over 11 active NFL seasons, Keenum has accumulated 15,175 passing yards, along with 79 touchdowns and 51 interceptions.
Keenum owns strong record against Fangio
Keenum does, however, have a favorable history against Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. Quarterbacks led by Keenum have gone 3-0 in three games against Fangio-coached defenses, although Keenum entered as a replacement rather than a starter in their first meeting in 2017.
Deep Dive
Why did the Bears choose Case Keenum as the starting quarterback against the Eagles instead of Tyson Bagent?
The Bears opted for Case Keenum as the starter due to his extensive preparation throughout the week, while Tyson Bagent had recently cleared concussion protocol but was still recovering from an injury.
What was the reason behind Caleb Williams' absence for the Bears' game against the Eagles?
Caleb Williams is inactive for the game due to a hamstring injury that has kept him out for the past two games.
How can Tyson Bagent contribute to the Bears as a backup quarterback against the Eagles?
Tyson Bagent, having cleared the concussion protocol, will serve as the backup quarterback, ready to step in if Case Keenum faces challenges during the game.
Ojas Jaiswal is a Content Producer at Hindustan Times, currently working with the US Desk, where he covers a wide spectrum of American sports and global news developments. From high-intensity NFL moments on the field to the latest off-court NBA storylines, he specializes in delivering engaging, audience-driven stories that blend factual accuracy with compelling narratives. A graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication from Bennett University, Ojas brings over two years of experience in digital journalism. Before joining Hindustan Times, he worked with EssentiallySports, a leading digital sports media platform catering to American sports audiences, where he contributed across multiple editorial and engagement-focused roles. He also interned with Times Network at the Sports Desk, producing articles and video content across diverse sports, ranging from Formula 1 to football. Known for his commitment to factual and accurate reporting, Ojas was awarded a Certificate of Excellence in Editing during his college years. Beyond sports journalism, he closely follows international affairs and global developments, while also exploring documentaries from different cultures and regions around the world. A lifelong football enthusiast, Ojas has admired Lionel Messi since childhood and continues to draw inspiration from the football icon’s journey and legacy.
Catch all the latest Sports News, scores, and highlights in one place. Stay updated with real-time coverage of your favorite games and athletes along with Lionel Messi latest updates.
Catch all the latest Sports News, scores, and highlights in one place. Stay updated with real-time coverage of your favorite games and athletes along with Lionel Messi latest updates.
Home/Sports/Us Sports/Why is Tyson Bagent not starting vs Eagles? Reason behind Case Keenum as Bears QB1 explained
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