With the Chicago Bears' top two quarterbacks dealing with injuries, Case Keenum has a real shot of starting against the Philadelphia Eagles. Here is the Bears' potential plan at quarterback for Monday night's game.
When the Chicago Bears signed veteran quarterback Case Keenum in April 2025, it was impossible to foresee just how critical that transaction would prove to be as the team prepares for its Week 3 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Keenum, 38, has a real shot at starting on Monday Night Football and playing in his first regular-season game since the 2023 season. Quarterbacks Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent both sustained injuries in the 9-3 Week 2 loss to the Minnesota Vikings and have yet to practice this week.
Williams is recovering from a hamstring injury and Bagent is still in concussion protocol. Offensive coordinator Press Taylor said Bagent was back at Halas Hall on Friday and mentioned having an extra day to prepare "helps the process of the protocol" to "get him back healthy."
Keenum has taken the first-team reps this week and practice-squad quarterback Miller Moss is the next man up as it stands today. Head coach Ben Johnson confirmed earlier in the week that the team had no interest in bringing in outside help at the quarterback position.
Taylor was asked specifically about third-string running back Roschon Johnson has a possibility for the team's emergency third quarterback. The former fourth-round draft pick was a dual-threat quarterback at Neches-Groves High School in Texas.
"That's a possibility, we have a couple different guys that would be a possibility in that role if that comes down to it," Taylor said. "And again, it's determining how the numbers shake out on Monday night. But that's part of the one of the things you see us do in the spring when we have all those skill guys throw, we put stock into that. I mean, those guys throw, we kind of have an idea who has a past of throwing, who's played baseball, who played high school quarterback, all that stuff. And then we watch them throw, and then we kind monitor it throughout the year. But we'll reference that tape and stuff, too, if it comes into times of needing somebody else to throw a pass and we'll see how that goes."
One of the players on the Bears' roster who does have a baseball background is veteran tight end Cole Kmet. This wouldn't be the first time for Kmet to potentially serve as the emergency third quarterback.
During the 2022 season, the Bears started Trevor Siemian for an injured Justin Fields against the New York Jets. Former Bears running back David Montgomery was the team's emergency third quarterback after Nathan Peterman, but Kmet remembers also being in considered for the position.
"Well, I've had to have it a few times where I've had to get fitted pre-game with the microphone and the helmet and all that stuff," Kmet said. "So I'm not too unfamiliar with it. But hopefully it doesn't come back."
The NFL brought back the emergency third quarterback rule in 2023.
