The first prime-time Chicago Bears game of the season has arrived, and it's one that is going to look much different than everyone anticipated. The Bears (1-1) enter Week 3 set to welcome the Philadelphia Eagles (2-0) to town on Monday Night Football.
Chicago experienced the highest of highs to start the year and is now coming off the lowest of lows in Week 2. The Bears fell to the Minnesota Vikings 9-3 in the pouring rain and saw quarterback Caleb Williams suffer a hamstring injury that could keep him out a couple of weeks. Even though the injury is less severe than initially feared, it still likely means the Bears need to turn to their backup quarterback, which may wind up being third-string veteran Case Keenum. With Williams' hamstring injury and Tyson
Bagent in concussion protocol, Keenum is in line to make his first start since the 2023 season.
Meanwhile, the Eagles are off to an undefeated start while scoring exactly 24 points each week. The reigning NFC East champions took care of business in Nashville, narrowly defeating the Tennessee Titans 24-20 behind quarterback Jalen Hurts and the passing offense. Like the Bears, the Eagles have injury questions that could impact their game plan on Monday night on both sides of the ball.
We saw the Bears dismantle Philadelphia during Black Friday last season, but these aren't the same teams from a year ago. Here are the Eagles players we'll be watching under the lights on Monday night.
1. QB Jalen Hurts
The Eagles offense hasn't been anything to write home about through two weeks, but there's no denying that they're being carried by Hurts. The Eagles' franchise quarterback has been the catalyst for the team's success, throwing for 467 yards, five touchdowns, and two picks while completing 64.5% of his passes. Hurts is 11th in the league in EPA, so he's not lighting the league on fire, but he's doing enough as a borderline top-ten quarterback to keep his team winning.
The biggest issue plaguing Hurts is the sacks. He's been sacked six times so far this season and is on pace for a career high with 51. Some of the problems are the injuries to the offensive line, but Hurts also likes to hold the ball longer than he should. If Hurts gets time, he can pick apart this defense. If the Bears can generate some pressure, he will be forced into mistakes.
2. WR DeVonta Smith
With no more A.J. Brown to contend with, wide receiver DeVonta Smith has become the unquestioned top target in Philadelphia's passing game. Smith is averaging 85 yards per game to start the year, 15 yards better than his best season in 2022, and is working deeper downfield, as evidenced by his 12.2 yards before reception, the highest of his career.
Numbers are one thing, but the tape is another. And if you have watched Smith, you know he's quick and twitchy getting in and out of his breaks. He might be a matchup nightmare for the Bears considering their cornerbacks are bigger and could have trouble keeping Smith in check. We'll see how the Eagles opt to use him, but you can expect a heavy dose of No. 6 on Monday.
3. TE Zach Ertz
The Eagles needed tight end help following the injury to starter Dallas Goedert and wound up with their former start Zach Ertz. The 35-year-old tight end recently joined back with the Eagles, the team he called home from 2013 through 2021. Though he's currently on the practice squad, the expectation is for Ertz to get called up to play against the Bears.
What kind of player will we see Monday night? Ertz is in his mid-thirties, coming off a torn ACL last December, and this will be his first game action of any kind since then. And how much will he be utilized along with Johnny Mundt? Ertz will be someone to watch from a curiosity standpoint alone.
4. DT Jordan Davis
There aren't many defensive lines in the NFL that are scarier than the Eagles, especially with their two disruptive defensive tackles. Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter have the potential to wreck opposing offensive lines, but it's Davis who is more worrisome for the Bears.
The hulking 336-pound lineman is coming off his best season as a pro in 2025, and though he hasn't had much production statistically, he's blown up a number of plays on his own already to help the Eagles get to a 2-0 start. Davis was busy the last time he faced the Bears, totaling a career-high five solo tackles while working to stop the ground game. He could be busy yet again on Monday, though he'll be facing Garrett Bradbury instead of Drew Dalman, which may lead to more disruption.
5. LB Jihaad Campbell
The Eagles' defensive line may be formidable, but their linebackers aren't on the same level. Particularly Jihaad Campbell. The 2025 first-round pick has struggled early in the season. He whiffed hard on a touchdown run by Titans quarterback Cam Ward and was a liability in pass coverage, allowing four receptions on four targets for 52 yards, according to Eagles Times.
Though the Bears won't be as multifaceted without Williams, they can still find ways to attack Campbell and the linebackers. This could be a big game for tight end Colston Loveland as he tries to get going if Campbell is unable to cover the middle of the field.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 5 Eagles players to watch vs. Bears
