Bears: Case Keenum to start vs. Eagles; Bagent clears protocol as backup

The Bears' quarterback picture for Monday night is now set: Case Keenum will get the start against the Eagles at Soldier Field. Tyson Bagent, cleared Sunday from the NFL's concussion protocol, will be available as the backup behind Caleb Williams, who has been ruled out with a hamstring injury.

The Bears announced Bagent's clearance Sunday, and he carries no game status designation for the prime-time matchup. But the starter's job has belonged to Keenum all week — head coach Ben Johnson gave the 38-year-old every first-team rep through practice after Williams went down, and Friday's practice quarterbacks were Keenum and practice-squad arm Miller Moss, with Bagent not spotted on the field as he finished the protocol. Johnson described Keenum simply as "the one that's practicing today."

Keenum, on the roster as the third-string quarterback, will make his first regular-season start since December 2024. His steady, veteran presence gives Chicago's offense a known commodity against a Philadelphia team entering the game at 2-0, and Johnson has praised both he and Bagent as cerebral passers with slightly different skill sets.

Bagent's position status now becomes a longer view than just this week.. With too short a turnaround to start Monday, the second-year man is a prime candidate to start Week 4 against the Jets if Williams is not ready to return. For Monday, though, Chicago's start falls to Keenum, with Bagent healthy on the sideline to step in if needed.