The Bears enter their Week 3 meeting with the Eagles with a lot still unsettled, and the biggest question sits right at quarterback.
Case Keenum had been trending toward the start with Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent both hurt, but that picture shifted heading into the weekend. Ben Johnson said before Saturday’s practice that Bagent had been cleared to return, though he stopped short of naming a starter.
Bagent then took part in practice and landed on the injury report as questionable. Williams, meanwhile, was ruled out because of a hamstring injury after missing every practice this week.
So for Chicago, the decision now appears to be down to Bagent or Keenum, with the inactive list due 90 minutes before kickoff.
The Bears also entered the game with a short injury list beyond Williams. Linebacker Noah Sewell and defensive lineman Shemar Turner were ruled out as well, with both players still working through return timelines on the reserve/PUP list. Sewell and Turner have had only one week of practice and have two more weeks to get themselves ready before Chicago has to activate them.
There was better news on a few key names. Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, kicker Cairo Santos and running back Kyle Monangai are all available after dealing with hamstring, right hip and knee issues, respectively. Each missed at least one practice, but all three worked back to being able to suit up in Week 3.
Philadelphia, for its part, will be missing three players: wide receiver Hollywood Brown, tight end Dallas Goedert and offensive tackle Fred Johnson. Jonathan Greenard is also listed as questionable with a pectoral injury. The Eagles do, however, have DeVonta Smith and Saquon Barkley available.
Chicago also made a small roster move before the game, bringing back long snapper Beau Gardner to the practice squad and releasing veteran receiver Scotty Miller. Gardner had been let go earlier in the week and replaced by Scott Daly after the Bears had issues with field goal operations in the loss to Minnesota, but the team opted to keep the rookie around. Miller had spent the first two weeks on the practice squad after signing with Chicago in May.
Johnson also offered a few notable comments in the lead-up to the matchup. On the quarterback situation, he said: "Still some uncertainty of who's inactive and inactive... We want to play this thing out."
Keenum, for his part, had plenty of praise for his coach, saying: "You want to run through a brick wall for the man. And if I get a chance to, to have that guy in my ear, golly, man, he's going to go down as probably the best play caller, play designer, coach -- all of the above -- when it's all said and done."
Johnson also had some praise for Stevenson, saying: "It's Miami tough."
"I do think there's something in the water down there. Guys are a little bit different."
And on Stevenson’s mindset, Johnson added: "Every single week all of our guys have their primary plays. We have played two games. I think he was disappointed last week because we lost the game."
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