The Bears may have caught a break at quarterback before their Week 3 Monday Night Football matchup with the Eagles.
Chicago is already expecting to be without Caleb Williams because of a hamstring injury, and Tyson Bagent had been trending the wrong way after entering concussion protocol. That had pushed Case Keenum into the spotlight as a possible starter.
But Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic reported a much better update on Bagent, with Ben Johnson saying the quarterback has cleared concussion protocol and could be available for Monday night.
"Bears head coach Ben Johnson says Tyson Bagent will be back at practice today," Fishbain reports. "He has cleared the concussion protocol."
That doesn’t guarantee Bagent will start, or even dress for the game, but it does change the picture for Chicago. If he can practice and continue to progress, the Bears at least have a path to getting their planned backup quarterback back in the mix.
Keenum could still end up starting, since the NFL’s concussion protocol may keep Bagent out for another week. Still, the update is a strong sign that Bagent has a real chance to be available against Philadelphia.
It matters because the matchup is a difficult one either way. The Eagles bring an elite defense at every level, but Chicago does have pieces around the quarterback that can make the offense dangerous, including Colston Loveland, Luther Burden III, and Rome Odunze.
Without Williams, the ceiling drops. But Bagent being available would give the Bears more upside than if Keenum were forced to handle the job.
And with Williams potentially missing more than Week 3, Bagent’s status could end up carrying weight beyond Monday night. If he keeps moving in the right direction, he could even be in line for the Week 4 start.
In Other News...
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 Defense Suddenly Faces A Bigger Bears Problem Than Quarterback
The Bears quarterback picture has been murky all week, and that has kept a little extra attention on Chicagos visit to Philadelphia. Backup Tyson Bagent was back at practice after reportedly clearing concussion protocol, according to head coach Ben Johnson, after sitting out earlier in the week and fueling speculation that Case Keenum might get the nod if Caleb Williams remains sidelined.
For the Eagles, the bigger issue is not simply who lines up under center, but how much the uncertainty changes the shape of the game. The betting line has already moved as Bagents status has swung back and forth, and Philadelphias defense now has to prepare for a matchup that could still tilt depending on whether the Bears are dealing with one backup quarterback, another, or more late-week confusion. [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 🡒]