The Chicago Bears received some encouraging news regarding their quarterback situation Saturday, even though Caleb Williams has officially been ruled out for Monday night’s matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. Backup quarterback Tyson Bagent returned to practice after progressing through the NFL’s concussion protocol, giving Chicago another potential option under center.
Bagent’s return is particularly important because the Bears entered the weekend facing the possibility of being without both of their top quarterbacks. Case Keenum had been preparing to start if Bagent could not make it back in time.
Tyson Bagent returns to practice
Bagent suffered a concussion late in Chicago’s Week 2 loss to the Minnesota Vikings after replacing Williams, who exited earlier in the game with a hamstring injury. Bagent subsequently missed practice Wednesday and Friday while going through the league’s concussion protocol.
On Saturday, however, Bagent was able to participate in practice without limitations after progressing to the next stage of the protocol. NFL Network and ESPN reported that he is now listed as questionable for Monday night.
There is an important distinction to the latest update: Bagent has advanced enough in the concussion protocol to practice, but he is not yet officially cleared for Monday’s game. According to the NFL, he would need to remain symptom-free after practicing and complete the remaining requirements before being cleared for game action.
That still represents a significant improvement from where the Bears stood Friday, when Bagent had yet to practice during the week.
Bears still have a quarterback decision to make
With Williams officially ruled out because of his hamstring injury, the Bears will choose between Bagent and Keenum for Monday night’s game against Philadelphia. Chicago’s official injury update says Bagent remains questionable, meaning the final decision could come down to how he responds following Saturday’s practice.
Bagent has previous starting experience with the Bears, going 2-2 as a starter in 2023 while throwing for 859 yards, three touchdowns and six interceptions across five appearances. He also completed 5-of-9 passes for 54 yards after replacing Williams against Minnesota last week.
Keenum, meanwhile, has been taking first-team snaps while Bagent has been unavailable. The veteran quarterback has extensive NFL experience but has not started a regular-season game since 2023.
For Chicago, getting Bagent back on the practice field is unquestionably a positive development. He still has another hurdle to clear before Monday night, but the Bears now have a legitimate possibility of having their preferred backup quarterback available against the Eagles.
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