The Bears keep stacking storylines, and the biggest one this week is still the quarterback situation heading into Sunday’s game against the New York Jets. Ben Johnson has done his best to keep that decision under wraps, but the picture is getting clearer: Caleb Williams is officially out, and the choice appears to be coming down to Tyson Bagent and Case Keenum.
Johnson didn’t give the game away when he met with the media on Wednesday. He kept it vague, but not completely opaque.
"The direction has already been made, so we'll be in good shape for Sunday."
That line told you everything and nothing at once. Johnson isn’t ready to publicly name a starter, but the Bears have clearly settled on a plan.
Then came the reporting on Thursday from Ian Rapoport, who said Bagent took most of the first-team reps this week and is expected to start. Chicago’s quarterback room may be three-deep, but all signs point to Bagent getting the nod.
That uncertainty around quarterback is only one part of a busy week at Halas Hall. The Bears also got major news on the injury front with Kyler Gordon. The team opened his 21-day practice window after he spent time on injured reserve with a calf injury.
Gordon’s return matters because it could shift things in the secondary. Malik Muhammad has impressed early, and he’s already worked both outside and in the slot. If Gordon gets back and gets rolling, the ripple effect could hit Tyrique Stevenson, who may be the one pushed out of the lineup.
There was also movement along the offensive line, where Ozzy Trapilo is getting closer. Johnson told ESPN’s Courtney Cronin that Trapilo is "close" to returning, though it’s still unclear whether that comeback happens against the Jets or waits until Week 5 against the Packers.
Trapilo’s recovery has been fast after tearing his patellar tendon back in January, and the Bears have had to patch things together while waiting for him. Braxton Jones and Theo Benedet have both seen time there, and Jones picked up an injury this week.
By Thursday, Johnson had named Benedet the starter at left tackle, and Jones was ruled out for Sunday. That means Trapilo’s first start of the season will have to wait at least another week.
Elsewhere, the Bears got a reminder of what they gave up when they moved on from Gervon Dexter Sr. A month after Chicago traded the defensive tackle to the Atlanta Falcons, he landed a 4-year extension worth $78 million. The Bears sent him to Atlanta before the season for a 2027 fifth-round pick and cornerback Clark Phillips.
Phillips still hasn’t done anything in a Bears uniform, and the fifth-rounder hasn’t been used yet, but the bigger point is obvious: Chicago was never going to match that kind of money for Dexter. His peaks were real, but so were the quiet stretches, and he was a problem against the run. The extension looks good for Dexter, but for Bears fans, it also feels like confirmation that this was never going to be a deal Chicago made.
Johnson also addressed the state of his pass catchers, and his answer lined up with what fans have been seeing. He said all of the Bears’ receivers and tight ends are hungry for more touches.
"I would say I think probably all of our pass catchers right now are all chomping a little bit to get fed a little bit more. And I think that's a good thing. That's on me as a play caller to make sure they all get the ball distributed to them."
He also had a blunt response when asked about the quarterback choice.
"It’s not hard at all. We have 3 quarterbacks who can win games.”
D’Andre Swift backed that up, saying the room gives the offense confidence no matter who is under center.
"With how detailed that room is and with the job, assignments and how they are, they kind of control the huddle when they’re in there. When they hand them opportunities they all do a great job. ... Whoever they put out there we have the utmost belief that they’re going to be able to get the job done."
And Tyson Bagent made it clear he’s not hiding how he feels about Keenum.
“Nobody’s a bigger cheerleader and fan of Case Keenum than I am.”
In Other News...
Bears Let An Ugly NFL Streak End At Soldier Field
A long-running oddity finally disappeared at Soldier Field when the Jets snapped an interception drought that had stretched beyond 1,000 days and more than 600 pass attempts. The takeaway for the Bears was a familiar one in a season full of quarterback turnover: backup Tyson Bagent was in at the time, and the turnover came in the second quarter with New Yorks secondary taking advantage of the situation.
Minkah Fitzpatrick was the one who made it happen, and he did it soon after returning from a groin injury. For a Jets defense that had gone far too long without a pick, the play ended one of the longest active droughts in recent NFL history and offered a small but notable defensive lift in Chicago. [Read more 🡒]
Ben Johnson Sent A Clear Message About The Bears Quarterback Room
The Bears took care of the Jets with a run-heavy showing that leaned on Kyle Monangai, who ripped through New York for 146 yards and two touchdowns as Chicago controlled the game on the ground and on the clock. It was also a notable night for the quarterback room, with Ben Johnson opening the game by giving veteran Case Keenum one snap before turning things over to Tyson Bagent, who settled in and handled the bulk of the work.
Bagent finished 25 of 34 for 268 yards and an interception, a line that fit the way Chicago wanted to play in a game where the defense and run game carried plenty of the load. The choice to start Keenum for a play and then move quickly to Bagent was hard to miss, especially in a win where the Bears were able to dictate terms while the Jets struggled to generate much without Breece Hall. [Read more 🡒]
Tyson Bagent Faces One Bears Test That Could Decide Everything
Tyson Bagent is set to make his first start since the 2023 season in Week 4 against the Jets, with Caleb Williams still out because of a hamstring injury. Bagent has been handling most of the first-team reps in practice, and this week has become a real test of how the Bears want to function with a different kind of quarterback in place.
For Chicago, the question is less about asking Bagent to be a hero than about what a workable game plan looks like around him. His style gives the Bears a chance to lean into what he does well, but the bigger issue is whether the offense can stay on schedule and avoid forcing him into spots that dont fit his strengths. [Read more 🡒]