Bears backup quarterback Tyson Bagent was back in the building Friday, but not at practice. With Bagent still in the concussion protocol, third-stringer Case Keenum remained in line to start Monday against the Eagles as Caleb Williams recovers from a hamstring strain.
While Williams likely will be out and still could miss multiple games, the Bears are hopeful Bagent could be cleared and are preparing him as much as possible behind the scenes.
Offensive coordinator Press Taylor said the extra day between games increases the chances “to get him back healthy” and for all the quarterbacks to “dive into the game plan a little bit more.”
The Bears also have explored which non-quarterbacks could play if needed. The NFL reinstituted the emergency third quarterback rule in 2023, but coach Ben Johnson said the team won’t add anyone and would proceed with Keenum as the starter and practice-squad quarterback Miller Moss behind him if necessary.
“In the spring, when we have all those skill guys throw, we put stock into that,” Taylor said. “We have an idea who has a past of throwing, who’s played baseball, who played high school quarterback, and then we watch them throw.”
Tight end Cole Kmet was a contingency early in his career and threw a pass last season. Wide receiver Rome Odunze played quarterback until high school, and running back Roschon Johnson was a high school quarterback.
Keenum, 38, hasn’t played since 2023 and rarely, if ever, would’ve gotten snaps against the first-team defense in practices.
“He’s still got pop in his arm and is able to drive throws down the field, so you see it in the routes on air or the one-on-ones,” quarterbacks coach J.T. Barrett said. “He’s still got a lot in the tank as far as throwing the ball downfield.”
