Houston Texans quarterback Case Keenum (18) throws against the Tennessee Titans during the third quarter at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023.
The Chicago Bears’ quarterback situation was already unstable. Now it has become a full-blown emergency.
Caleb Williams is dealing with a right hamstring injury and is expected to miss at least some time. Tyson Bagent was supposed to step into the starting role if Williams could not play against the Philadelphia Eagles. That plan is now in danger.
Bagent has entered the NFL’s concussion protocol, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The timing could not be worse for Chicago. Bagent has several days to clear the protocol before Monday night’s game, but until that happens, the Bears have to prepare as if their second quarterback may not be available. Most quarterbacks miss the next game after entering concussion protocol. Chicago could benefit from playing on Monday, not on Sunday.
Still, it leaves Case Keenum as the most likely starter.
NFL: Cleveland Browns at Houston Texans3
Dec 24, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco (15) talks with Houston Texans quarterback Case Keenum (18) after the game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Keenum is a veteran with 66 career starts, plenty of experience and a memorable place in NFL history after leading the Minnesota Vikings to the “Minneapolis Miracle.” But he is also 38 years old and has not appeared in a regular-season game since 2023, when he started for the Houston Texans. The passer has thrown 142 passes since the 2020 season.
Keenum completed 11 of 17 passes for 62 yards and threw two interceptions in his last game before being replaced by Davis Mills. The Bears never expected to need him for a Monday night matchup against the Eagles. He was hired to be a grown-up in the room and mentor Williams and Bagent as an extra coach, rather than a live arm.
Chicago entered the week believing it had a manageable backup plan. Williams would likely miss the game, but Bagent had spent four seasons learning Ben Johnson’s offense, working closely with the coaching staff and building trust inside the locker room.
Bagent also showed some of that preparation during Sunday’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings. After Williams suffered his hamstring injury, Bagent entered in the fourth quarter and nearly engineered a comeback. He completed five of nine passes for 54 yards, moved the Bears into the red zone in the final minute and connected with Luther Burden III and Rome Odunze on important throws.
The drive ended badly when Bagent was sacked on the final play, but the Bears still believed they had found a workable path forward.
NFL Award Predictions after Week 2, Defensive Player of the Year, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Turner3
Sep 20, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Dallas Turner (15) sacks Chicago Bears quarterback Tyson Bagent (17) to end the game in the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
Johnson had already expressed confidence in Bagent before this latest injury complication.
“I called plays for him all preseason, so we’ll be fine,” Johnson said after Bagent’s relief appearance against Minnesota.
That confidence is now being tested by the concussion protocol. Bagent’s status will depend on the medical process, not how badly the Bears need him. Chicago cannot simply decide that the game is too important to wait. He must clear each stage before he can return to practice and eventually be cleared for contact.
The Bears also have to account for the possibility that both quarterbacks are unavailable.
If Williams and Bagent cannot play, Keenum would likely get the start, while undrafted rookie Miller Moss could be elevated from the practice squad to serve as the backup. Moss has an interesting connection to Williams, having backed him up at USC before transferring to Louisville, but that experience would not make him ready for a meaningful NFL role.
Chicago would be asking Keenum to run an offense he did not expect to lead, with a young quarterback behind him who has never taken a regular-season snap. That is the nightmare scenario.
The Eagles are not an opponent a team wants to face while improvising at the quarterback position. Philadelphia is 2-0, has a talented defense and will have an extra week to prepare for whatever Chicago puts on the field. If the Bears are forced to start Keenum, Johnson and offensive coordinator Press Taylor may have to build a more conservative plan around quick throws, protection help and the running game.
NFL3
Sep 20, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson leaves the field after a game against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
The Bears do have capable backs in D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai, and the offensive line must become a bigger part of the solution. But Philadelphia will know exactly where the pressure is going.
The good news is that Bagent has not been ruled out. A concussion protocol designation is serious, but it is not automatically a multi-week absence. He still has time to progress and potentially return to practice before Monday. Until that happens, though, the Bears are staring at a quarterback depth chart that has changed from promising to precarious in a matter of days.
Williams is hurt. Bagent is in the protocol. Keenum may be next. That is not the quarterback plan Chicago had in mind when the season began, and the Eagles are about to find out whether the Bears can survive it.