The Bears’ quarterback room has gone from a place of strength to a potential emergency in a hurry.
Tyson Bagent is in the NFL’s concussion protocol after suffering a concussion, according to ESPN/NFL Media, putting Chicago at real risk of being down to its third-string quarterback for Week 3 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
That danger exists because Caleb Williams is already sidelined with the hamstring injury he picked up in Sunday’s 9-3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Williams is week to week, which means his status for the “Monday Night Football” matchup is in doubt.
If both quarterbacks are unavailable, Case Keenum would be next up.
Keenum hasn’t taken the field since 2023, when he started two games for the Houston Texans. In those spot starts, he completed 34 of 53 passes for 291 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions. His last season as a full-time starter came in 2018.
It isn’t clear exactly when Bagent entered the concussion protocol, though the final snap of the Week 2 loss could have been the moment. He was sacked by Vikings edge rusher Dallas Turner on the last play, with Turner driving him hard into the turf. Bagent got back to his feet right away and didn’t appear to show any obvious signs of distress on the broadcast.
In relief of Williams, Bagent went 5 of 9 for 54 yards. The Bears have only seen him in 13 games over his four NFL seasons, but they clearly value him as a backup, giving him a two-year, $10 million extension that keeps him in Chicago through 2027.
In Other News...
Taylor Decker Could Face A Rival Option Lions Fans Will Hate
Taylor Decker is still sitting in free agency after asking for his release from Detroit, and the longer he remains unsigned, the more his market starts to tilt toward places Lions fans would rather not imagine. One of those places is Green Bay, where a season-ending torn patellar tendon to right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele has left the Packers looking for help on the offensive line.
Decker has spent most of his career as a left tackle, so the fit would not be as simple as a plug-and-play move, but the possibility alone is enough to make this a story worth watching from Detroits side. No official move has been reported yet, and for now the veteran remains available while a division rival weighs its options. [Read more 🡒]
Jamaal Williams Reunion Buzz Puts Lions Running Back Depth In Focus
Jamaal Williams has made it clear he would welcome a return to Detroit, and he has already reached out to Dan Campbell about the possibility. Williams, who played for the Lions from 2021 to 2022, has been out of football since the 2024 season, but his interest in a comeback lands at a time when Detroit is paying close attention to its running back room.
Campbells response has been measured, with the Lions presently holding tight at the position while navigating injuries and workload concerns. For now, there has been no move to bring Williams back, but the fact that the conversation has happened keeps the door from closing completely if the roster picture changes. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Get A Timely Alim McNeill Check As Defensive Questions Grow
With the defense under the microscope and questions hanging over the unit, Detroit got a useful early-week update on Alim McNeill. The defensive tackle did not practice Wednesday, but the expectation is that hell be back on Thursday and available for the upcoming game against the New York Jets, which is the sort of late-week health check the Lions badly need right now.
The same goes for the offensive line depth, with Christian Mahogany and Blake Miller also expected back at practice after sitting out the previous game. And while the discussion around the defense has widened beyond injuries, Dan Campbell made clear he still has Kelvin Sheppards back, saying he expects the defensive coordinator to remain in his role even as the pressure around the unit continues to build. [Read more 🡒]