Caleb Williams will not play Monday against the Philadelphia Eagles, but the Bears are still keeping their cards close to the vest on who will start in his place.
That leaves Chicago with two familiar options: Tyson Bagent, the primary backup behind Williams, and veteran Case Keenum, who sits third in the quarterback room. As of Saturday night, the Bears had not named a starter.
Bagent’s status is the real hinge point here. He came out of his emergency Week 2 assignment on his feet, but also in the concussion protocol, which caught plenty of Bears fans off guard since he finished the game. That development pushed Keenum into first-team reps during the week.
There’s also a straightforward football reason for the wait. Bagent and Keenum offer very different skill sets, so keeping the decision quiet forces the Eagles to prepare for both. The Bears have no obligation to reveal anything early, and there’s no reason they would volunteer an edge.
According to Courtney Cronin, Bagent had not been back at Halas Hall until Friday, when he joined meetings. Saturday brought a more encouraging step when he was cleared for full practice, though that alone does not mean he has cleared protocol.
To be available Monday, Bagent needs to get through consecutive days without symptoms.
If this were a Sunday game, the lean would probably be toward Keenum. But with the extra day and Bagent back in full practice on Saturday, the expectation is that Bagent ends up under center.
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