In Chicago, folks are used to confronting quarterback controversies involving the supposed full-time starter.
For decades, it's been an annual tradition to rant and rave about why whoever the backup quarterback is — the actual identity doesn't matter — should play over the incumbent, somewhat disappointing starter because of vibes. (Make no mistake: Football-obsessed Chicagoans are usually in a dark, nihilistic place by the time this tried-and-true ritual occurs.) But in Caleb Williams' case, the Bears, for once, have a difference-making starting quarterback whose status no one questions and who everyone understands is the clear face of the franchise when he's healthy.
That's actually the issue at hand for Ben Johnson's Bears. Williams is currently
recovering from a hamstring strain, so ... he's not healthy. That means the Bears have a backup quarterback "controversy" for now, featuring old man Case Keenum and hand-picked understudy Tyson Bagent. This is the latest sentiment after the 38-year-old veteran Keenum helped the Bears to a convincing 20-point win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night.
But even labeling this situation a controversy glosses over how a process-oriented, forward-thinking coach like Johnson operates.
Ben Johnson said they know what "direction" they want to go at quarterback this week vs. the #Jets but he declined to name a starter or offer any significant clues regarding #Bears starter.
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) September 30, 2026
To some, how could the Bears possibly veer away from Keenum now while Williams sits on the shelf? He's the so-called hot hand, after all. In old-school football terms, you don't turn your nose at momentum. You don't scoff at riding a wave of energy. No one is immune to being Wally Pipp'd. That's just business in professional sports.
But that's the rub. Usually, in any bog-standard quarterback discussion like this, the guy who made it a conversation in the first place is much younger, has better athleticism, and, as a result, is considered the more viable option overall. There is more potential to untap. These are extremely lofty comparisons, but think Tom Brady and Drew Bledsoe, Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre, what have you. If the younger player usually looks good in relief, they're more likely to take the starting job full-time eventually.
That's not the case (no pun intended) for Keenum and Bagent. Keenum is the late-stage veteran who is mainly on the Bears' roster to be another experienced quarterback voice to lean on for Williams. He wasn't ever supposed to play, but Williams' injury and Bagent spending most of Week 3 in concussion protocol threw a wrench into those plans. Meanwhile, Bagent is (technically speaking) the 26-year-old young gun Chicago has spent the last few years grooming for a backup role, and perhaps even for a future trade. For all intents and purposes, the Bears have prepared and kept him specifically for a moment like this.
Johnson explained this distinction as much when initially asked about the Bears' fill-in quarterback situation moving forward:
Ben Johnson on whether Case Keenum will start against the Jets if Caleb Williams doesn't return for Week 4 (the reported timeline is 3-4 weeks of recovery from his Grade 2 hamstring strain).
— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) September 29, 2026
Johnson: "We'll have a discussion as a coaching staff and we'll see where we need to go…
Not to take too much away from a dream Monday night for Keenum, but his stellar performance was almost certainly rooted in not having started an NFL game in three years beforehand. So there wasn't much tape on him, making it easier to utilize a one-time-only game plan against an Eagles defense that likely would've otherwise overwhelmed him if it had known what to deal with. Expecting Keenum to replicate that performance two weeks in a row is really foolish on its face. There is now tape on what he can do.
Now is the time for Johnson to cash out on his third-string quarterback, not double down on what just worked.
I'm not going to sit here and say that Bagent would or will definitely play better than Keenum. No one knows that for sure. However, we also can't sit here and state that he will be worse. The only truly meaningful sample size we have of Bagent in an NFL game was the end of a rainy fourth quarter against one of the NFL's best, most aggressive defenses. It feels unfair to judge him off that. I'd venture to guess he'd look different with a full week of preparation as the unquestioned starting quarterback (and in better weather). I think Johnson and the Bears coaching staff agree.
With all of this said, I will trust whoever the Bears decide to trot out in Week 4 against the New York Jets. Why? Because Johnson has earned the benefit of the doubt as a coach who clearly has the pulse of his offense and signal-caller. If he surprisingly rolls with Keenum, I have faith the Bears' offense will still look fine. If he elects to ride with Bagent, I'm sure the Bears will play to his strengths and maximize their offensive output, too.
No matter who plays while Williams sits out, I'm confident it will be OK, thanks to Johnson. For once, as a native Chicagoan, I'm just happy we're talking about which competent backup quarterback should play while the talented star quarterback heals from a non-major injury.
That's a good problem to have, and it's new, jarring territory for folks like me.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Who should start at QB for Bears in Week 4? Whoever Ben Johnson wants
