Veteran Case Keenum practices Wednesday, ready to start if called

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The Chicago Bears aren't certain who will start at quarterback against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3, but 15-year journeyman Case Keenum is next up after a rash of injuries have decimated the quarterback room.

Keenum was the only quarterback on the Bears' active roster to practice Wednesday while Caleb Williams (hamstring) and Tyson Bagent (concussion) were sidelined. Miller Moss, an undrafted rookie on Chicago's practice squad, took backup reps during the two-hour session.

Five days removed from Chicago's primetime showdown on "Monday Night Football," Keenum could be in line to start his first regular-season game since 2023.

"I feel very prepared," Keenum said. "It's what I do every week. It's what I've done for a long time. I've backed up a long time in this league. If my name's called, I'm excited to be out there."

Keenum, 38, has not played in a regular-season NFL game since Weeks 15 and 16 of the 2023 season when he logged consecutive starts for the Houston Texans. As the Bears' third-string quarterback behind Williams and Bagent, Keenum's practice cadence is normally restricted to mental reps, which he's exchanging this week for work with the starters.

"I feel as good mentally as I've ever felt," Keenum said. "Being able to see things before they happen, having a lot of banked reps. So stuff I've done in the past, maybe we're not getting a ton of reps of it this week, but feel good about if I'm playing to be the one to run those plays. I think as far as operationally goes, I think we can do a lot of things pre-snap, try to get the right play when we can, and I think we can do a lot of fun stuff."

Keenum ended up in this position after Bagent reported concussion symptoms Tuesday and entered the league's five-step protocol. Coach Ben Johnson said he believes Bagent was injured on the backup's second play in place of Williams in the fourth quarter. After releasing a short pass to his left that fell incomplete, Bagent was tackled by Vikings outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel.

Bagent was not present at Halas Hall on Wednesday while working through the earliest phase of the concussion protocol. Meanwhile, Williams, who is classified as week-to-week, has been actively involved in walk-throughs and meetings as the Bears game-plan for the Eagles.

Earlier this week, coach Ben Johnson said Williams is not expected to practice but did not rule him out for Week 3. The Bears do not plan to sign another quarterback in the meantime.

Despite the uncertainty of their quarterback situation, Johnson views the challenge of so many unknowns as an opportunity.

"One of those things that everyone outside the building I am sure is writing us off and telling us it can't be done and we really relish that," Johnson said. "So, guys will step up to the plate, guys that maybe we don't anticipate or expect."

Should Keenum start against the Eagles, he brings a wealth of experience having played with eight different teams since entering the NFL in 2012, and a 3-0 record as a starter against Philadelphia defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.

Keenum has started 66 games throughout his career, including two in the postseason, and has thrown for 15,175 yards and 79 touchdowns.

"He's been a baller from the day he was born from what I can tell," Johnson said. "He's got that way about him. He's got a knack. His teammates gravitate to him. I think that's a good starting point for a quarterback. And of course he's up there in years a little bit, but that experience has really paid off for him. He sees the game the same way we do. I think he accelerates through his progressions because he's seen so many things over the course of his time. He's been in so many different offenses.

"So in a lot of ways, he might be a step slower than he was when he first entered the league, and yet his mind is going so fast it helps catch him on up. And he's playing as good of football as he probably has his entire career, is what he'd tell you."

Keenum appeared in all three of Chicago's preseason games where he had Johnson as his playcaller. He re-signed with the Bears this offseason to a two-year, $5.5 million deal after coming out of retirement in 2025.

"Man, I'm the biggest Ben Johnson fan," Keenum said. "I'm here right now because of him. I was retired and he called me two years ago, basically. In my own head, I had prepared to be ready but there weren't a lot of phone calls coming. He called. We met. We were supposed to meet for like 15 minutes and wound up talking for 2½ hours. I was like, OK I want to do it. I want to do it with this guy. It's been such a pleasure. I found the love of football again working with him. I can't say enough good things about Ben."