The Chicago Bears could be facing a daunting scenario under center for their upcoming high-profile matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field, with the possibility of turning all the way down to third-string quarterback Case Keenum on Monday night.
The cascading quarterback concerns for Chicago stem from a turbulent divisional loss last Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. During the game, starting quarterback Caleb Williams suffered a lower-body injury while scrambling out of the pocket. Williams collapsed on the turf, bringing an abrupt halt to the offensive momentum, and was eventually escorted to the locker room on a cart, sparking immediate and widespread concern among fans, analysts, and the organization alike.
Fortunately for both Williams and the Bears, subsequent medical evaluations brought a measure of relief. An MRI examination conducted on Monday morning revealed no signs of a tear and confirmed there was no structural knee damage. Instead, medical personnel diagnosed the young signal-caller with a hamstring strain. In the wake of the testing, the team has listed Williams as week-to-week, keeping the door open just wide enough that the coaching staff has not officially ruled him out for the upcoming Monday Night Football clash.
However, the path to the field remains narrow for the starting quarterback, and football operations must prepare for every contingency as kickoff approaches.
When Williams went down in the fourth quarter against Minnesota, the Bears turned to backup quarterback Tyson Bagent to navigate the remainder of the contest. Yet, misfortune struck the backup ranks as well, casting an additional shadow over the team’s offensive preparations. According to a report from NFL insider Ian Rapoport, Bagent is currently navigating the league’s concussion protocol following the physical divisional matchup.
While the unique Monday night schedule affords the team an extra day of recovery time, the rigid protocols and timeline associated with head injuries could very well rule Bagent out of commission for the primetime showdown in Philadelphia.
With both Williams and Bagent facing significant hurdles to clear before game day, the offensive game plan under offensive coordinator Ben Johnson appears destined to shift downward on the depth chart. If neither of the top two signal-callers can receive medical clearance in time, the responsibility will fall squarely upon the shoulders of veteran third-string quarterback Case Keenum.
Turning to Keenum would introduce a dramatic shift in experience and playing style for the Bears offense. The journeyman veteran has not thrown a pass in a regular-season NFL game since December of 2023, when he was called upon to make a pair of late-season starts for the Houston Texans.
During that brief stint late in the 2023 campaign, Keenum showed both his trademark resilience and the rust associated with limited playing time. He completed 23 of 36 pass attempts for 229 yards, throwing one touchdown pass and one interception to help guide the Texans to a hard-fought overtime victory against the Tennessee Titans in Week 15. The following week, he returned to the starting lineup against the Cleveland Browns, a tougher outing in which he was intercepted twice during a loss.
Now, several years removed from those spot starts in Houston, Keenum finds himself potentially thrust into the bright lights of a primetime road environment against a formidable Philadelphia Eagles defense. For Ben Johnson and the Chicago coaching staff, the days leading up to Monday night will involve careful evaluation of medical updates, cautious optimism regarding their primary options, and intense preparation to ensure the offense can execute regardless of who ultimately takes the first snap at Lincoln Financial Field.