Most head coaches would be nervous and uncertain about having to start their third-string backup. Losing Caleb Williams on Sunday felt like a deathblow to the season. Thankfully, the injury proved minor, but it does mean the Chicago Bears will be without their prized starter for at least one game. Adding to the mayhem was the delayed announcement that backup Tyson Bagent had also suffered a concussion in the game. This means Ben Johnson may have to take on Vic Fangio and that Philadelphia Eagles defense with Case Keenum under center.
For many, that is a daunting task. Keenum hasn’t played in a game since 2023 with the Houston Texans. He’s 38 years old and doesn’t have the same physical capabilities he did seven or eight years ago. Doesn’t that make Johnson uneasy? Not in the slightest. If anything, the Bears’ head coach seems almost a little excited about the prospect of calling the offense for the longtime veteran. That may sound baffling to many, but it stems from what Keenum brings to the table—namely, his mind.
Johnson knows Case Keenum can process quickly.
“I’ve called a lot of practices for him, unscripted practice,” Johnson said. “I’ve called a lot of preseason games for him so far. He’s at the point of his career where he’s like another coach in a lot of ways. He’s seen a ton. He knows what good football looks like. He knows what a healthy locker room looks like and he’s a key part of what we do.
And so he and I talk on a regular basis, from a quarterback meeting perspective to a big lens with the team. I mean, he’s a big part of this and so I’m not concerned at all about calling the game for him or how he can potentially play on Monday night…
…He sees the game the same way we do,” Johnson said. “I think he accelerates through his progressions because he’s seen so many things over the course of his time. He’s been in so many different offenses. So in a lot of ways, he might be a step slower than he was when he first entered the league, and yet his mind is going so fast it helps catch him on up.”
Johnson is a traditionalist at heart.
It seems so long ago, but just last year, many people questioned whether the partnership between Johnson and Williams would work. It felt like such a contrast in styles. Williams was part of that new wave of quarterbacks that mixed ungodly arm strength with incredible athleticism, making magic happen off-script. On the other end of the spectrum, you had Johnson. He ran a classic-style offense built around running the ball, play action, and timing-and-rhythm passing concepts. It is why Jared Goff played his best football in Detroit. Johnson’s system was a perfect fit for him.
To the head coach’s credit, he made adjustments to the scheme to incorporate Williams’ ability with great success. Things were really clicking towards the end of last season. However, it was still apparent that the Bears’ young quarterback didn’t play with the timing and rhythm the system usually calls for. Some still argue we haven’t seen Johnson’s system at its full potential as a result. That probably won’t change with Case Keenum, but his style of play is a more natural fit.
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History is on Keenum’s side.
While he’s had what can best be described as a roller coaster career, one thing has remained consistent. When put in the hands of a proven play caller, he tends to perform well. His two best seasons from a statistical perspective came in 2017 with Minnesota and 2019 with Washington. Pat Shurmur might’ve been a terrible head coach, but the man had considerable success as an offensive coordinator with the Vikings and Eagles. In Washington, Keenum got to work with a young coordinator named Kevin O’Connell.
One thing we know about Johnson is that he always does a good job of keeping his quarterbacks out of bad situations. Remember, Williams was sacked 68 times as a rookie. Johnson’s scheme adjustments and an improved offensive line dropped that to 24 last season. Keenum probably won’t set the world on fire come Monday night, but Johnson sounds pretty confident the offense will be okay.
