Case Keenum reportedly to start for Bears on 'Monday Night Football' with Tyson Bagent as the backup

Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune on Sep 27, 2026

Published in Football

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CHICAGO — Tyson Bagent is out of concussion protocol, but the Chicago Bears will turn to Case Keenum to start Monday night’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Soldier Field.

Fox’s Jay Glazer reported Sunday morning that the Bears will go with Keenum, who last started an NFL game at the end of the 2023 season as a member of the Cleveland Browns. Bagent is expected to serve as the backup.

The Bears already ruled Caleb Williams out with a hamstring injury.

A primary reason why the Bears will turn to Keenum is that Bagent missed practices on Wednesday — when the first- and second-down offense is installed — and Friday — when the third-down package is installed.

Keenum took all of the first-team reps in those practices before Bagent returned as a full participant in Saturday’s practice, which typically involves red zone and two-minute situations.

Keenum, 38, is a little less than two years younger than coach Ben Johnson. He thought his long NFL career, which included an 11-3 record as the starter for the Minnesota Vikings in 2017, might be over. Then the Bears called, and what he thought would be a 15-minute conversation with Johnson stretched 2 1/2 hours.

“He came highly recommended just in terms of the type of person that he was and as we envisioned what that role could be like as the third quarterback potentially and competing for backup at that point, we hadn’t had any time with Tyson,” Johnson said.

“That was really the talking point, ‘Hey, this is what the scenario is and how we feel like you could fit in,’ and I wasn’t sure where he was at in terms of mindset at that point, and yet I did feel a natural rapport. Just easy conversation, going back and forth, shared experiences, and I think he warmed up to that idea, and it was right for him and his family, and of course he’s kind of like the governor down there in Texas.

“So, pulling him out of Houston, that was no easy feat, but the city of Chicago has a pretty good draw itself, so I think that played a part as well. His family loves it here, and we’re very fortunate to have him. I think everything that we hoped he would be in this role, he has been, and if he plays Monday night, we’re expecting big things from him.”

Now, Keenum is expected to have an opportunity to show what he can do.

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