Caleb Williams is still likely sidelined with that hamstring injury, and Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson has already made his call: it’s Tyson Bagent under center for the big game against the Packers. But man, the talk around the league is already buzzing, especially when you look at grizzled veteran Case Keenum and what he brings to the table.
Bagent’s Limited Runs Versus Keenum’s Deep Resume
Bagent has just five career starts, with two of those being on the road. And yeah, neither of those road games ended in a win. We’re talking about his rookie year in 2023, when the Bears were floundering under Matt Eberflus, but still, playing on the road in the NFL is a whole different beast. It’s a tough spot to be in for a young QB.
Now, you flip that coin, and you’ve got Case Keenum. The dude has started 70 games in his career, with a whopping 40 of those on the road. He’s even got two playoff starts to his name, winning one of them! And get this, he’s 2-0 against the Packers, including a huge win in Lambeau itself. Sure, that was nine years ago, but experience like that travels, doesn’t it? He even showed he’s still got some life left in that arm of his just a couple of weeks ago on Monday Night Football.
The Halas Hall Conversation That Didn’t Happen
Former Bears Olin Kreutz and Patrick Mannelly, who were on The Score’s Bears-Jets postgame show, definitely think there should have been a serious internal conversation at Halas Hall. With full tape now available on both backup quarterbacks, you’d think they’d weigh all the options, right? They both tried to play within the system, even if both made a few ill-advised throws.
Honestly, at the end of the day, it might not even matter much. Both Bagent and Keenum seem to have a good grasp of the offense, and with one of the best play callers in the game today in their ear, you’ve got to hope they can execute. Still, it’s a huge decision for the Bears. Fans are already being polled: Who would you name as the starter? Are you confident in the Bears? It’s a gamble for sure, and we’ll see if it pays off.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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