Bears QB Caleb Williams will miss Week 4 vs. the Jets, leaving Chicago's starter in question. Plus, get updates on D'Andre Swift's knee injury
Ben Johnson didn't name a starting quarterback for the Week 4 matchup against the New York Jets during his Friday press conference. However, the Chicago Bears' head coach ruled out Caleb Williams for a second straight game, as he is still recovering from a Grade 2 hamstring injury he sustained in the Week 2 loss against the Minnesota Vikings.
"I mean, honestly, I feel really good about the whole room, so I don’t know that there’s a bad choice or a wrong choice," Johnson said. "We’re very, very fortunate that we’ve got guys that we believe in. The whole team believes – it’s not just the coaching staff – the whole team believes in everybody in that room. It’s one of those things that you can’t go wrong. You just wanna make sure you’re doing right by all the guys on the team and you’re putting yourself in the best chance to win the ballgame. I’m looking forward to seeing what it looks like on Sunday."
Johnson mentioned there is "such a thing as playing the hot hand. That is real, and we’re certainly taking that into consideration, and yet, there’s a body of work that goes into it as well."
The hot hand would be Case Keenum, who threw for 247 yards and two passing touchdowns and scored on a 1-yard run in the 27-7 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football.
Backup quarterback Tyson Bagent missed the Week 3 game because of a concussion, but he is now symptom free. His last NFL start was during his rookie season in 2023, so it wasn't easy for Bagent to miss the primetime matchup.
"I had a lengthy conversation with my agent about it," Bagent said. "Because just like what you said, I knew there was a great opportunity in front of me. I've never had a concussion before, so I was really unsure of the symptoms. But, after having conversations with him, obviously your brain is far more important than being able to play in a game, no matter how high the stakes of the game is. So I think we made the right decision, and I think because of that I was able to clear myself a lot sooner than I would have been able to if I didn't.”
Despite wanting to play, Bagent ensured everyone he doesn't have an ego.
"Nobody's a bigger cheerleader and a fan of Case Keenum than I am," Bagent said. "I think he is the epitome of what I believe a quarterback is and is supposed to be, so it was fun to watch him play.”
Bagent and Keenum both spoke to the media during the open locker room availability on Thursday and neither gave an indication at to who will start on Sunday.
Outside of who is starting at quarterback on Sunday at Soldier Field against the Jets, the Bears are also monitoring running back D'Andre Swift's status. Swift didn't practice on Thursday because of a knee injury.
"I think whenever you get in a short week with running backs, that's what happens, so he's still feeling the effects of a Monday Night Football game," Johnson said. "I think we are going to get him out there today. We'll workout him out and see how he's doing, but I'm optimistic for Sunday."
Swift was a full participant in Friday's practice and didn't have an injury designation, meaning he should be good to go for Sunday's game against the Jets.
