Tyson Bagent is reportedly getting the start at quarterback for the Chicago Bears this Sunday against the New York Jets, with Case Keenum backing him up. This news comes despite Keenum making a really convincing case just last week, but it seems Bears head coach Ben Johnson has a clear plan for who steps in while Caleb Williams recovers from his hamstring injury.
Keenum, at 38, absolutely turned back the clock last Monday night. The guy went off in primetime, throwing for 247 yards and scoring three touchdowns, including one on a QB sneak, to lead the Bears to a 27-7 smackdown of the Eagles. Johnson even lauded Keenum for that performance, but here’s the kicker: Keenum only got that start in Week 3 because Bagent was stuck in the concussion protocol, missing most of the practice week. Bagent, who’s 26, picked up that injury late in the fourth quarter the week before, during a soggy 9-3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. That’s when he was originally subbing in for Williams, who’s now dealing with a Grade 2 hamstring strain that could sideline him for a whole month.
This week, it’s Bagent’s show, and he’s been taking the majority of the first-team reps at practice, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. This isn’t the first time Bagent has stepped into a regular-season starting role. Back in 2023, as a rookie playing for then-head coach Matt Eberflus, he got four consecutive starts from Week 7 to Week 10 when Justin Fields was out with a thumb injury. That run saw him lead Chicago to a respectable 2-2 record. He kicked it off strong with a 72.4% completion rate, one touchdown, and zero picks in a dominant 30-12 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Over that entire four-game stretch, Bagent showed he could be accurate, hitting a 65.1% completion rate, but he was also a bit turnover-prone, posting a 3:5 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Plus, he added 105 rushing yards and a score on the ground. It’s been over 1,000 days since Bagent’s last regular-season start, which is a wild stat to think about. Then again, Keenum also went about that long before his spotlight-stealing performance last Monday.
So, get ready for Bagent to lead the charge this Sunday against the Jets. With Williams out, the Bears need Bagent to bring that same energy and efficiency he showed in flashes as a rookie. Can he avoid the turnovers and keep Chicago moving? That’s the big question as he steps back into the spotlight.
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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