The Chicago Bears already had to deal with the prospect of not having Caleb Williams on Monday night against the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles. Still, they felt confident that backup Tyson Bagent could step in and keep the offense on track long enough for him to return. While not the level of talent Williams is, Bagent has earned respect in the locker room for his intelligence, work ethic, and keen understanding of the position. His strong preseason performances indicated he had the ability to play well if called upon.
Sadly, it’s looking like the moment he’s waited years for might’ve been ripped away. Ian Rapoport dropped a bombshell on Tuesday. Bagent apparently suffered a concussion at some point during the game against Minnesota and is now in the team’s protocol. Most likely, it occurred on the last play, when he was slammed to the turf for a sack on 4th down. Unless the symptoms clear up quickly, the Bears are staring down the prospect of starting Case Keenum against the tough Eagles defense.
Tyson Bagent needs some good luck to overcome this setback.
NFL players must progress through a strict five-step process in the concussion protocol before they’re cleared to return. The good news is that Bagent has some fortunate circumstances on his side. This is his first documented concussion that he has suffered. Such a case means his brain is not susceptible to worse damage than somebody who’d dealt with multiple. There is also the schedule. Having that extra day before their game gives the quarterback a crucial extra 24 hours to recover. This is often crucial in the protocol evaluations.
What it will come down to is the symptoms. Doctors will be looking for signs of headaches, balance issues, or dizziness. If Tyson Bagent exhibits any of them going into the weekend, there is no chance they will let him play. In that scenario, third-string quarterback Case Keenum will get the nod to start. If the symptoms don’t manifest, it’s possible he could be cleared as early as Saturday. That would be the preferred outcome for everybody, but much depends on what the trainers recommend and how head coach Ben Johnson wants to handle it.
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Keenum’s experience will impact the decision.
This isn’t your normal, garden-variety emergency option. This is a grizzled 38-year-old veteran who has been in the league for well over a decade. He has started 66 games in his career, going 30-36. The Vikings reached the NFC Championship with him in 2017. Keenum knows what he’s doing. The primary concern is that he hasn’t played since 2023. It is hard to know how his body will respond to seeing live regular season action for the first time in three years.
Chicago might be about to find out. Philadelphia’s defense is a tough opponent to deal with. They have one of the best pass defenses in the league under Vic Fangio. Asking Keenum to throw the ball a lot against that unit feels like a losing proposition. Then again, if the Bears can lean on their running game, it’s not an impossible obstacle to overcome. How Bagent progresses in the next 48 hours will prove crucial.
