Caleb Williams Out; Bears to Turn to Tyson Bagent or Case Keenum vs. Eagles on Monday Night
Caleb Williams will miss Monday night’s game after sustaining a hamstring injury midway through the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings. Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft, had started every Bears regular-season and postseason game since entering the league. The Bears will turn to either Tyson Bagent or veteran Case Keenum to start at Soldier Field as they seek to rebound from a 9-3 loss and move to 2-1 on the season.
Bagent relieved Williams against Minnesota and completed 5 of 9 passes for 54 yards and a 73.4 passer rating, and he cleared concussion protocol Sunday. The undrafted rookie from Division II Shepherd University appeared in five games in 2023, winning two of four starts and passing for 859 yards and three touchdowns, and he has posted strong preseason passer ratings the last three summers. Keenum brings extensive experience, having played in 80 NFL games with 66 starts and throwing for 15,175 yards with 79 touchdowns 51 interceptions and an 84.6 passer rating; he signed with the Bears last year but did not appear in a regular-season game.
Offensive coordinator Press Taylor emphasized the continuity in the quarterback room and the familiarity of the skill players with all three signal-callers. The Bears enter Week 3 leading the NFL in rushing at 212.5 yards per game highlighted by a 291-yard performance against the Carolina Panthers, their highest single-game total since a 302-yard outing in 1984. Running backs D’Andre Swift (34 carries for 169 yards and three touchdowns) and Kyle Monangai (20 carries for 147 yards and one touchdown) have paced the ground attack. They were the only NFL teammates to both rush for at least 750 yards last year.
The Eagles, 2-0 and atop the NFC East after wins over Washington and Tennessee, present a stout matchup. Philadelphia’s defense is coordinated by Vic Fangio and is anchored by tackles Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis linebacker Zack Baun and cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. Bears right guard Jonah Jackson will face a test against Carter, a 2023 first-round pick who has been voted to the Pro Bowl each of the last two seasons and who registered a key sack in the Eagles’ win over the Titans.
Chicago’s defense will try to build on a performance that limited Minnesota to zero touchdowns 246 total yards 11 first downs and a 23.1 percent third-down conversion rate (3 of 13). The Eagles offense is led by three-time Pro Bowler Jalen Hurts, who has completed 64.5 percent of his passes for 467 yards with five touchdowns two interceptions and a 100.7 passer rating through two games. Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen noted Hurts’ ability to extend plays with his mobility as a major element the Bears must account for.
Philadelphia’s skill players include running back Saquon Barkley and receiver DeVonta Smith. Barkley rushed for 1,140 yards and five touchdowns last season and was the NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2024 after a 2,005-yard campaign with 13 touchdowns. Smith had 10 receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown in Sunday’s win over Tennessee, and Dontayvion Wicks has caught seven passes for 147 yards and a score this year. Cornerback Jaylon Johnson stressed the importance of team tackling to limit Barkley’s explosiveness and elusiveness.
Pass-rush matchup dynamics will be key with defensive end Montez Sweat lined up against veteran right tackle Lane Johnson. Sweat spearheads a pass rush that will try to generate pressure and keep Jalen Hurts in the pocket. The outcome of the quarterback decision and the Bears’ ability to sustain their rushing dominance against a veteran Fangio defense will be central to Monday night’s storyline.
NFL Sports Blog Take
The Bears are likely to emphasize the run and protect the quarterback who takes the first snap in relief of Caleb Williams. Chicago’s ground game has produced at an elite level ranking first in the league and providing a clear path to control the clock and limit Philadelphia’s offensive possessions. The choice between Bagent and Keenum presents contrasting profiles: Bagent offers youth and recent in-game reps with the offense while Keenum supplies veteran experience and career production. The Bears’ best path to victory is to sustain drives on the ground win the line of scrimmage and force the Eagles to score on longer methodical possessions.