Tyson Bagent is officially back under center for the Chicago Bears this Sunday against the New York Jets, even after Case Keenum led them to one of the most shocking upset wins of this young season. Caleb Williams is still out with a hamstring strain, so the starting job was up for grabs, but head coach Ben Johnson is sticking with his original plan.
The Upset That Wasn’t Enough
Let’s talk about what Keenum just pulled off, because it was straight-up wild. The 38-year-old veteran stepped in last week when Bagent was in concussion protocol, and nobody, I mean nobody, expected what happened next. Keenum went out there and threw for 247 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Bears to a 27-7 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night. That’s a massive upset. His performance made it a legitimate question of who should start in Week 4, but Johnson isn’t wavering. “There was a reason why Tyson ended training camp as our No. 2 quarterback,” Johnson said, basically shutting down any lingering debate.
Bagent’s Wild Ride Back to the Starting Spot
So, who is Tyson Bagent, and why is he getting the nod over a guy who just pulled off an upset? Bagent’s story is already pretty nuts. He found his way to the Bears in 2023 after going undrafted out of Shepherd University, a Division II school! He crushed his first preseason, earned a spot on the final 53-man roster, and then made four starts as a rookie. He won his first career start in Week 7 that year against the Las Vegas Raiders, tossing for 162 yards and one touchdown. After a couple of losses, he turned around and beat No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers 16-13 in prime time. That was a wild rookie season! He hasn’t started since then, but he did earn a two-year, $10 million extension before the 2025 campaign, making him the first Bears quarterback to sign an extension since Jay Cutler in 2014.
What’s at Stake For Chicago This Sunday
This decision means the Bears are about to become just the third team ever to start three different quarterbacks through the first four weeks of a season, a wild stat we haven’t seen since the 1997 Jacksonville Jaguars. Bagent hasn’t made a start in a while, but now he’s got the ball. He has a chance to earn Chicago its third win of the season, and after all that drama, you know he’s going to be looking to prove Johnson’s decision right.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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