Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson turned an unsettled Week 4 quarterback decision into theater on Sunday, deploying both Tyson Bagent and Case Keenum for the opening snap against the New York Jets at Soldier Field before Bagent led the team to a 23-12 victory.
Johnson Starts Two Quarterbacks for Opening Play
Both Tyson Bagent and Case Keenum lined up on the field for the game’s opening play on Sunday against the New York Jets. The result was a minimal gain on a rush by D’Andre Swift before Keenum headed to the sideline, leaving Bagent to command the offense for the rest of the afternoon.
Coach Ben Johnson refused to name a starter all week while Caleb Williams recovered from a Grade 2 hamstring strain. The cheeky play call acknowledged media reports pointing to Bagent as the intended starter.
Keenum was technically recorded as a starter in the official game book, but the move allowed Johnson to acknowledge speculation while handing the reins to his regular backup.
Bagent Beats Jets Defense
Bagent completed 25 of 34 passes for 268 yards with one interception in his first start since the 2023 season. He faced a New York defense that, through three weeks, surrendered the second-fewest yards per game—trailing only the defending Super Bowl champions—and allowed the eleventh-fewest points per game.
Kyle Monangai racked up two red zone touchdowns to power the Chicago attack, even as the Jets were without running back Breece Hall, receiver Adonai Mitchell, tight end Mason Taylor, and left guard Dylan Parham.
Bagent signed with Chicago as a product of Division II Shepherd University in West Virginia. The organization signed him to a contract extension last year.
Bagent Praises Keenum as a Teammate
Bagent revealed that Keenum reached out before kickoff to bolster his confidence despite the public debate over who deserved the role.
He was telling me how appreciative he was of me throughout his week, preparing and preparing for his start,
Bagent told reporters, according to ChiCitySports. I really did more of the same. He’s a top two friend-teammate that I’ve ever had and I can’t say enough about Case Keenum and what he means to me.
The Bears hold a 3-1 record heading into a divisional matchup next Sunday against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, with Caleb Williams’ availability uncertain as he recovers from his hamstring injury.
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