Bears Clear Tyson Bagent for Week 3 as Caleb Williams Misses Eagles Game

Q: Will the Bears trust Tyson Bagent after concussion clearance, or turn to Case Keenum against the Eagles’ fierce pass defense?

The Bears appear set to turn to Case Keenum, with Tyson Bagent available as the backup after clearing concussion protocol. Bagent’s clearance gives Chicago a healthier quarterback room, but the practical issue is preparation. He missed most of the week while in protocol and only returned for one full practice, while Keenum took the first-team reps and handled the game-plan install. Multiple reports, including from ESPN and NFL Network, indicate that Chicago expects Keenum to start for that reason, even though Bagent remains the nominal No. 2 behind Caleb Williams. That choice also fits the matchup. Philadelphia’s defense has been one of the league’s best against the pass, ranked fifth, and the Bears are unlikely to want a recently cleared quarterback making his first start since 2023 in a difficult primetime road environment. Keenum, 38, offers far more experience and is viewed as the steadier option to manage protections, reads and tempo. Whoever starts, Chicago’s clearest path is on the ground. The Bears enter Week 3 with the NFL’s top rushing attack, and the Eagles have been more vulnerable against the run than the pass. That points to a game plan built around D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai, with short, controlled throws to targets such as Colston Loveland, Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III. So the Bears may trust Bagent enough to dress and be ready, but the evidence points to Keenum getting the start and Bagent serving as the emergency or change-of-pace option.

3 articles · Updated · NFL.com · Sep 27

Sunday brought Chicago a second quarterback option: Tyson Bagent cleared concussion protocol, was removed from the injury report and is available for Monday night against Philadelphia.
Bagent had missed the previous two practices, then advanced enough to work fully in the Bears' final session and remained symptom-free into Sunday, completing the protocol.
Caleb Williams has already been ruled out with a hamstring injury, leaving Chicago to choose between Bagent and 38-year-old Case Keenum; the team has not named a starter.
If Bagent gets the nod, it would be his first start since 2023, when he went 2-2 in five appearances; whoever starts faces an Eagles defense ranked fifth against the pass through 2 weeks.