The Eagles’ Week 3 trip to Chicago was supposed to be one of the early highlights of the schedule. Instead, it now looks like a spot where Philadelphia could walk into a favorable matchup and come out with a chance to clean up some defensive issues.
Chicago’s quarterback situation is the whole story. Caleb Williams is not expected to play after suffering a hamstring injury in Week 2, and backup Tyson Bagent has entered concussion protocol. According to NFL Network, the Bears are preparing to start third-string quarterback Case Keenum.
That would put the Eagles across from a familiar name. Keenum, now 38, has not started an NFL game since the 2023 season. He was once viewed as one of the league’s better backup quarterbacks, but at this stage he’s more of a clipboard holder than a game-changing option.
Philadelphia has already beaten Keenum badly on a big stage. In the 2017 NFC Championship Game at Lincoln Financial Field, the Eagles rolled past Keenum and the Minnesota Vikings 38-7.
The Eagles intercepted him twice, and Patrick Robinson jump-started the rout with a 50-yard pick-six in the first quarter. Two weeks later, Philadelphia finished the job by beating the New England Patriots for its first Super Bowl title.
The Bears do have some things working in their favor. Their running game gave the Eagles trouble in last year’s 24-15 Bears win on Black Friday, and Chicago coach Ben Johnson is considered one of the league’s sharpest offensive minds.
Still, if Keenum is the one under center, the Bears would seem to have a hard time consistently moving the ball against an Eagles defense that could use a statement performance.
In Other News...
Eagles Suddenly Have A Dallas Goedert Problem They Can't Ignore
Saquon Barkley walked away from Sundays game against the Titans with a stinger, but the bigger concern for Philadelphia may have been what happened to Dallas Goedert. The veteran tight end left with a knee injury and did not return, and while the team still does not have a clear read on the severity, the uncertainty alone is enough to complicate a position group that has already been asked to carry plenty of weight in the offense.
The Eagles have dealt with tight end injuries before, but Goederts situation is different because of both his role and the lack of easy answers behind him. If the injury lingers, Philadelphia may have to look at adding help, either by promoting a backup into a larger role or exploring the trade market for another tight end to stabilize the offense while it waits for clarity. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Escaped Nashville As Titans Star Sent A Message Fans Wont Ignore
The Eagles left Nissan Stadium with a 24-20 win, but the kind of game that lingers usually says as much about the opponent as it does about the scoreboard. Tennessee defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons was a force throughout the afternoon, piling up six tackles, three quarterback hits and a sack while helping make life difficult for Philadelphias offense in a tight, physical contest.
Simmons postgame message made clear the Titans believed they had chances to flip the result if their pressure had turned into a few more key plays. For the Eagles, it was another reminder that even when they survive on the road, narrow wins can come with plenty of warning signs the next opponent will notice. [Read more 🡒]
Jordan Davis Usage Just Put An Eagles Rotation Battle In Focus
The Eagles Week 2 snap distribution offered another look at how quickly the staff is willing to adjust, even with the season still taking shape. Nick Sirianni pointed to the extreme heat in Nashville as one factor in the shuffle, and the changes showed up all over the lineup, from Hollywood Brown getting more run on offense to a tight end group reshaped by Dallas Goederts injury.
On defense, the rotation at edge rusher stood out with Jalyx Hunt and Nolan Smith handling a heavy share of the work, while Jordan Davis was on the field far less than some of the recent investment around him might suggest. It left a familiar kind of early-season question hanging over the front seven: which players are locked into bigger roles, and which ones still have to earn them week by week? [Read more 🡒]