The Bears may not be headed into Monday night with their third-string quarterback after all.
Tyson Bagent was back at practice on Saturday after clearing the concussion protocol, Chicago head coach Ben Johnson said. That changes the picture for a Bears offense that had been trending toward Case Keenum under center with Bagent missing practice earlier in the week.
The situation still leaves Caleb Williams out, but Bagent’s return gives Chicago at least one more option behind center. He had not practiced earlier in the week, which had put Keenum in line to start against the Eagles.
The betting market has already reacted to the uncertainty. Philadelphia opened as a 3.5-point road favorite, the line moved to 4.5 points after Bagent entered concussion protocol, and now it’s back to Eagles -3.5.
Bagent hasn’t started a game since the 2023 season, and one assessment of him from Windy City Gridiron painted the picture of a backup who can steady things without changing the whole offense. The evaluation said he “has some mobility to get out of issues; he can operate an offense efficiently, and he doesn’t make a ton of mistakes.”
It also made clear the limitations: “But make no mistake, he isn’t a starter. He doesn’t have a strong arm and doesn’t have a lot of dynamic attributes.”
That same view also noted that some Bears fans believe the offense would barely miss a beat with Bagent, but disagreed with that idea. “The offense takes a significant hit without Caleb Williams, but it shouldn’t be inoperable with Bagent.”
Whoever starts Monday night, the Eagles still have the same job in front of them: slow down Chicago’s run game. That should be more manageable if Williams is out, since Vic Fangio’s defense won’t have to account for the Bears’ passing attack to the same degree. But after the way Chicago pushed Philadelphia around in Philly last season, the Eagles have to show they can handle the physical challenge again.
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Eagles Suddenly Face A Tougher Week 3 Question Than Expected
The Eagles went into the week expecting a clearer read on Chicagos quarterback situation, but the Bears now appear likely to be without Caleb Williams because of a hamstring injury. Tyson Bagent has cleared concussion protocol and could return to practice, which at least gives Chicago another option as it sorts through the position for Week 3.
Ben Johnson confirmed Bagents clearance, a positive development for a Bears team still trying to stabilize under center. Case Keenum could still end up starting, so Philadelphia may have to prepare for more than one possibility even as the matchup looks different than it did when the schedule first pointed to Williams. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Suddenly Have A Week 3 WR Question Fans Did Not Expect
The Eagles entered the week expecting to sort through a familiar set of early-season injury concerns, but the wide receiver picture took an unexpected turn when Hollywood Brown was added late to the injury report with a knee issue and sat out a practice. For a team still trying to settle its passing-game rotation, the timing matters, especially with a game coming up and the depth chart suddenly looking a little thinner than it did a day earlier.
If Brown is unable to go, Elijah Moore could become part of the conversation in a bigger way. The offseason addition has not played in the first two games, but the Eagles may turn to him for specific offensive packages or even special teams work if they need another receiver available, giving him a chance to finally enter the mix at a moment when the team did not seem to be planning for one. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles May Finally Get Pass-Rush Help Theyve Been Missing
The Eagles pass rush may finally be close to getting a needed boost as Jonathan Greenard moved into questionable territory for Week 3 against the Bears after practicing fully for the first time this season. Greenard, who missed training camp and Philadelphias first two games with a pectoral injury, has been working his way back and sounded optimistic about being available when the team heads to Chicago.
Even if he is active, the Eagles are not expecting Greenard to jump straight into a heavy role right away. The plan is to ease him in situationally, which gives Philadelphia a chance to add some edge help without forcing him into a full workload before he is ready. For a defense looking for more pressure off the edge, his return would be a timely step in the right direction. [Read more 🡒]