Case Keenum’s start for the Chicago Bears was a sharp reminder the Detroit Lions can’t afford to keep treating QB2 like an afterthought.
Brad Holmes said years ago that the Lions would put “emphasis” on the backup quarterback spot. Since then, Detroit still hasn’t really given the position the kind of attention that would inspire much confidence behind Jared Goff.
And while Goff has stayed remarkably durable - he hasn’t missed a start since the 2021 season - the margin for error at quarterback is still tiny. One awkward hit, one bad landing, one false step, and everything changes.
That reality has been on display around the league in the first three weeks of the season, and the Bears offered the clearest warning. In a span of about 48 hours last week, Chicago went from having a healthy starter to the possibility of turning to its No. 3 quarterback.
Caleb Williams hurt his hamstring late in Week 2 against the Minnesota Vikings, and two days later Tyson Bagent was in concussion protocol after finishing that game. Suddenly, Keenum was positioned to make his first start since the 2023 season.
Bagent ultimately cleared protocol and was available for Week 3 against the Philadelphia Eagles, but Keenum had already taken the starter reps all week and got the assignment. He made the most of it.
Chicago opened up the passing game earlier than expected against an Eagles defense it had punished on the ground last season, and Keenum handled it all with poise. He finished 24-for-34 for 247 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions, then added a 1-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter to seal a 27-7 Bears win.
That kind of performance is exactly why the Lions’ situation feels so fragile. If Goff were to go down, Detroit would be staring at a steep drop-off - maybe one of the steepest in the league.
Goff isn’t likely to absorb the same kind of injury Williams did because he isn’t a runner, but that doesn’t make the threat any smaller. One bad play can still flip a season.
The Bears also showed what it looks like when a backup actually knows the system. Even with their top two quarterbacks out, they still had someone who could run a workable version of the offense.
The deeper parts of the playbook stayed out of reach, but Keenum’s fit with Ben Johnson was clean. He’s been “in the room” since Johnson took over as head coach last season, and that familiarity mattered.
There’s a Lions angle in that, too. Former offensive coordinator Drew Petzing built a functional offense around Jacoby Brissett with the Arizona Cardinals last season, and if Goff ever missed time, Petzing might be able to do something similar again.
But the current backups in Detroit are not in Brissett’s tier, at least not on ability. That’s a criticism of the backups more than a compliment to Brissett.
Maybe the Lions can keep getting by without a trustworthy answer behind Goff. But the Bears just showed how quickly that gamble can turn messy - and how valuable it is when a team actually nails its QB2. Keenum’s night against the Eagles was the proof.
In Other News...
Lions Just Reopened A Roster Spot With A Familiar Return
The Lions made a familiar practice-squad swap Tuesday, parting ways with cornerback Natrone Brooks and bringing back tight end Miles Kitselman. Kitselman is returning to Detroit after previously being waived with an injury settlement, a transaction that had temporarily taken him off the teams roster picture but left the door open for a reunion down the line.
Kitselmans return gives Detroit another look at a player the organization already knows, while the move also keeps the tight end room in motion after a series of roster adjustments at the position. The broader backdrop includes the injury settlement process, which can create an opening for a later return, and it comes amid other recent moves involving tight ends and defensive end Ahmed Hassanein. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Campbell Just Made Derrick Moores Path To Playing Time Clear
Derrick Moore has spent the early part of his Lions career a step behind, a familiar place for a rookie defensive end trying to climb a crowded depth chart while also dealing with lost practice time because of injury. For a Detroit defense that is still sorting through adjustments, the development curve has been especially important, and head coach Dan Campbell made it clear Moores next step is all about getting more work and turning those reps into trust.
Campbell said Moore needs those chances to keep growing, and that the expectation inside the building is he will improve and push for more playing time as he gets comfortable. Campbell also noted he has been spending extra time in defensive meetings to help with the ongoing adjustments on that side of the ball, which only adds to the sense that Detroit is trying to steady the group while waiting for younger pieces like Moore to catch up. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Suddenly Have A Tough Center Decision Before Division Games
Juice Scruggs has handled the center job well through the first three games, giving the Lions something they needed in the middle of the offensive line after moving him into the role. He has graded out strongly and looked comfortable enough that Detroit now has a real decision to make as the schedule turns tougher, with divisional games looming against the Packers and Vikings.
Dan Campbell said Cade Mays is making progress in his recovery, but a Week 4 return may still be a stretch, and the Lions may choose to wait until after the bye before bringing him back into the mix. That leaves Detroit weighing continuity against the possibility of getting Mays back in place at center, a choice that could shape how the line holds up in the games that matter most for the division race. [Read more 🡒]