The Bears head into the 2026 season with a three-man quarterback setup that already feels a little crowded and, at the same time, pretty useful. Caleb Williams, Case Keenum and Tyson Bagent are all on the active roster, and Chicago’s decision to keep all three makes sense when you consider how hard it would be to sneak either Bagent or Keenum onto the practice squad without someone else grabbing them.
Bagent is the name that stands out here. He helped force the issue with a preseason finale that turned plenty of heads: 16 completions on 17 attempts for 208 passing yards and two touchdowns, plus 21 rushing yards. That kind of outing tends to stick with teams around the league, especially the ones hunting for a backup or a short-term bridge if something goes wrong.
That’s why Chicago can look at Bagent as a real trade chip. If an injury opens the door elsewhere, or if another team suddenly needs a quarterback stopgap, the Bears could be in position to pick up a future selection for him. The article even suggests Bagent may already be a better option than the current backups on the Atlanta Falcons or Cleveland Browns.
Williams remains the franchise’s clear future, and the source points out that he has been incredibly durable in his young career. Keenum gives the Bears security for the coming season, but Bagent has done enough to leave at least one lingering question: could he grow into a starter somewhere down the line?
That’s part of why a trade feels like a real possibility if the right offer comes along. Chicago is unlikely to pay to keep Bagent long term, and there’s also the appeal of sending him somewhere he might actually get a shot to start. If the Bears can turn that into a draft pick, the logic is pretty straightforward.
For Bagent, the strong finish to the summer has to feel meaningful. He enters the year knowing he did what he could to earn another chance, even if that opportunity is not coming in Chicago because of Williams’ stability and ceiling.
Now it comes down to how GM Ryan Poles handles it from here, and whether he shows any aggressiveness before the deadline. However it plays out, Bagent has at least put himself firmly in the conversation for teams that eventually find themselves needing a quarterback.
In Other News...
Bears Practice Squad Decisions Put Several Familiar Names In Focus
After finalizing their 53-man roster, the Bears turned quickly to building out the next layer of depth, announcing an initial practice squad that features several familiar names. Among the players included are Salvon Ahmed, Scotty Miller and Marcus Davenport, giving Chicago a mix of veteran experience and recent roster holdovers as it settles into the early part of the season.
The practice squad is often where the week-to-week roster churn starts, and Chicago still has a little unfinished business there with a few additional signings reported but not yet officially confirmed by the NFL. For a team trying to keep options open at multiple spots, those remaining moves could matter just as much as the first wave of announcements. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Face A Risky Pass Rush Decision Fans Will Debate
Azeez Ojularis release during final roster cuts left one of the more intriguing pass rush names still on the market, and it comes at a time when the Bears are still sorting out the shape of their defensive front. With Montez Sweat already established on one edge, Chicago has reason to keep looking for help opposite him, especially if the goal is to add someone who can contribute in a rotational role without forcing the entire pass rush plan to rest on one player.
Ojulari brings real production to the conversation, with 22 career sacks, but he also comes with the kind of injury history that makes any decision here a little more complicated. For the Bears, this is the sort of move that could strengthen depth and raise the ceiling of the defense, but it also carries enough risk to make the debate linger until the front office decides whether the upside is worth the gamble. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Just Got A Crucial Week 1 Sign On Luther Burden III
Luther Burden IIIs summer in Chicago had been slowed by a groin injury that kept him out of all three preseason games, but the outlook now appears much brighter as the Bears head toward their season opener. Head coach Ben Johnson said Burden is expected to be fully recovered and available to play, a welcome sign for a receiver whose role was already set to grow after the offseason trade of DJ Moore.
For a Bears offense trying to settle in under Johnson, getting Burden back on track before Week 1 matters. His availability gives Chicago another weapon to lean on right away, and it eases some of the pressure on a receiving group that is adjusting to a bigger spotlight than it had going into camp. [Read more 🡒]