The Chicago Bears head into Week 3 of the 2026 season still searching for their first victory. After a promising opening-week performance, the offense stalled in Week 2, managing only three points while quarterback Caleb Williams exited with a hamstring injury in the loss to the Vikings.
With Williams unavailable for Monday night’s game in Philadelphia, backup Tyson Bagent was the early candidate to start after replacing Williams late in Week 2, but Bagent spent the start of the week in concussion protocol and only returned to full practice Saturday. Despite that, the team has named veteran Case Keenum the starter for Monday Night Football, according to NFL Network.
Keenum hasn’t started an NFL game since late in the 2023 season, when he made two appearances for the Houston Texans and went 1-1, throwing one touchdown and three interceptions. He remained with Houston in 2024 but did not play after suffering a preseason injury that ended his year.
Signed by the Bears as an experienced backup and mentor to Williams and Bagent, Keenum has generally been the third-string option and often inactive on game days. That changes Monday against a stout Eagles defense; a clean performance and a win could push Keenum into consideration as the starter if Williams remains sidelined for Week 4.
Fan Take: This matters because it tests Chicago’s depth at quarterback and could reshape the team’s short-term plan if Keenum sparks an upset. For the league, veteran backups stepping in and performing well highlights the value of experienced signal-callers and can affect roster and quarterback-evaluation strategies across teams.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
