CHICAGO — Case Keenum started at quarterback for the Chicago Bears on Monday night against Philadelphia, his first regular-season game in almost three years.
Caleb Williams was inactive with a right hamstring injury, leaving coach Ben Johnson to choose between Keenum and Tyson Bagent. The 26-year-old Bagent returned to practice on Saturday and cleared the NFL's concussion protocol on Sunday.
The 38-year-old Keenum is in his second season with Johnson and Chicago after signing with the team in April 2025. It was his first regular-season action since he started for Houston in a 36-22 loss to Cleveland on Dec. 24, 2023.
Keenum has played in 81 regular-season games, including his NFL debut in 2013 with the Texans. He was 30-36 as a starter going into the matchup with the Eagles.
Williams left last weekend's 9-3 loss to Minnesota after he got hurt on a scramble midway through the fourth quarter. Johnson has said the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft is week to week.
Williams threw for a franchise-record 3,942 yards while leading Chicago to the NFC North title last season. He had 27 touchdown passes and seven interceptions.
Bagent was 5 for 9 for 54 yards after he replaced Williams against the Vikings. He was sacked by Dallas Turner on the final play of the game.
Bagent had a record-setting career at Division II Shepherd University before signing with Chicago in May 2023 as an undrafted free agent. He made four starts while appearing in five games as a rookie, passing for 859 yards and three touchdowns with six interceptions.
