2026 · WEEK 5 CLOSE
$237+3.9%1W−75%SINCE '26 DRAFTHIGH $964
AGE38Feb 17, 1988
EXP14 yrssince 2012
HEIGHT6'1"
Caleb Williams (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against Atlanta, but if he's not given the green light to return, then it's unclear whether Keenum or Tyson Bagent starts under center for Chicago, Larry Mayer of the Bears' official site reports.
It seems Keenum and Bagent would each have a 50-50 shot at starting Sunday if Williams isn't cleared to play, with head coach Ben Johnson saying Friday "we have two guys that are equally qualified" in reference to Keenum and Bagent. Keenum was the backup for each of the Bears' last two games, though he did take over in the fourth quarter of Chicago's Week 5 loss to Green Bay after Bagent threw his second pick of the game in the third period. Keenum was the starter and led the Bears to a Week 3 victory over the Eagles, when he completed 24 of 34 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns while adding six yards and a score on four carries.
Keenum completed 11 of 18 passes for 108 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception while adding a four-yard carry during the Bears' 31-7 loss to the Packers on Sunday. He also lost a fumble.
Head coach Ben Johnson pulled the plug on Tyson Bagent after the former threw his second interception of the day late in the third quarter. Keenum threw a pick of his own on his first drive under center on a pass that was intended for Rome Odunze, and the veteran QB was strip-sacked later in the fourth quarter. During Monday's press conference, head coach Ben Johnson was mum on whether Keenum, Bagent or Caleb Williams (hamstring) would take snaps with the first-team offense during Week 6 prep, so the Bears' starting QB situation is muddy ahead of their road game against the Falcons on Oct. 18.
Everyone sharing the ball with Case, most valuable first.
Above the line the plan was to throw; below it, to run.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that Keenum is expected to serve as the backup quarterback to Tyson Bagent against the Jets on Sunday.
Keenum was under center for Week 3 and led the Bears to a 27-7 win over the Eagles, when he threw for 247 yards and two touchdowns while adding a rushing TD. However, Bagent has taken the majority of first-team reps during Week 4 prep, with Caleb Williams (hamstring) ruled out for a second consecutive week. Head coach Ben Johnson has yet to name a starter, but for now, it looks like Bagent will be the starter Sunday while Keenum stays ready as the QB2.
Keenum is expected to serve as the Bears' No. 2 quarterback behind Tyson Bagent in Sunday's game against the Jets, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
While Caleb Williams (hamstring) was out and while Bagent was limited to the backup role in Week 3 after missing two practices due to a concussion, Keenum drew the start in the Bears' 27-7 win over the Eagles on Monday, when he threw for 247 yards and two touchdowns to go along with a rushing score. Though Williams (hamstring) will miss a second straight game Sunday, Keenum has ceded most of the first-team reps to Bagent during the week of practice. Head coach Ben Johnson has yet to officially announce a Week 4 starter, but all signs point to Keenum serving as Bagent's backup.
Keenum completed 24 of 34 passes for 247 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions while rushing four times for six yards and another score in the Bears' 27-7 win over the Eagles on Monday night. He also fumbled once but recovered.
Keenum's final numbers underscore how effective he was running Ben Johnson's aggressive offense against a quality defense. The 38-year-old signal-caller, who got the starting nod over Tyson Bagent in Caleb Williams' (hamstring) stead, connected with seven different targets overall, facilitating multi-reception tallies for four of his pass catchers. Keenum completed an eight-yard shovel pass to Luther Burden for his first touchdown toss of the night, and he followed it up with an impressive 41-yard scoring strike to Kalif Raymond in the latter portion of the third quarter. He then closed out the scoring with a one-yard run just past the midway point of the final period, rounding out a rewarding fantasy night. Given Monday night's results, Keenum appears well in line to be under center for a Week 4 home matchup against the Jets on Sunday.
Keenum is in line to start Monday's game against the Eagles, Jay Glazer reported on "Fox NFL Sunday."
Top quarterback Caleb Williams (hamstring) has already been ruled out for Monday's contest, and while Glazer relays that No. 2 option Tyson Bagent has cleared concussion protocol, the Bears plan to keep Bagent in the backup role this week due to his lack of involvement in practice leading up to the game. The stage is thus set for the 38-year-old Keenum to see his first NFL regular-season action since 2023, when he appeared in two games with the Texans. With Williams sidelined, the Bears could opt for a more run-heavy game plan under Keenum, who may not see enough passing volume to warrant consideration in fantasy lineups outside of leagues that have a Superflex spot or start two quarterbacks.
Keenum could be in line to start Monday's game against the Eagles with both Caleb Williams (hamstring) and Tyson Bagent (concussion) uncertain to be available, Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com reports.
A healthy inactive as the emergency No. 3 quarterback in the Bears' 9-3 loss to the Vikings this past Sunday, Keenum may be called upon for his first start since 2023 while the statuses of the top two signal-callers on the depth chart are in flux. After Williams exited in the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss, head coach Ben Johnson noted Monday that he didn't expect Williams to practice this week but wasn't willing to officially rule him out from playing against the Eagles. As a result, Bagent appeared on track to receive all of the first-team reps in practice, but his surprise placement in the NFL's five-step concussion protocol Tuesday suddenly puts him at risk of joining Williams in street clothes in Week 3. While he represents an experienced fallback plan if Williams and Bagent can't go, the 38-year-old Keenum would likely handle more of a game-manager role as a starter, which could hinder the fantasy prospects of all of the Bears' pass catchers.
The QBs priced immediately above and below him.
