Tyson Bagent has cleared the NFL's concussion protocol and is now available for Monday night's game against the Eagles, a timely update that changes the Bears' quarterback picture after last Sunday's injury uncertainty.
The Bears had already prepared Case Keenum to start against the Eagles after Caleb Williams was ruled out on Saturday. Williams did not practice all week after suffering a hamstring injury against the Vikings last Sunday, when Bagent entered the game in the fourth quarter.
Bagent returns at a crucial time
Bagent was back at practice on Saturday as a full participant, and his clearance on Sunday afternoon gives Chicago another option before Monday Night Football. That matters because the Bears are now no longer forced to lean only on the emergency plan they had put in place earlier in the week.
Ben Johnson sounded comfortable with where Bagent stood, saying he would be “gonna be in a good spot for what we're asking him to do.” When asked directly about his availability, Johnson simply said: “Sure.”
That is the key point for Chicago. The Bears do not need Bagent to carry the offense on his own, but they do need enough stability at quarterback to avoid turning a difficult matchup into a scramble.
What changes for Chicago?
The answer is straightforward: the Bears now have a clearer quarterback decision for Monday night. Caleb Williams remains out, but Bagent's return to full participation and his clearance from concussion protocol mean Chicago can weigh its options with more confidence.
That also leaves Case Keenum in a different spot than he was on Saturday, when the Bears were preparing him to start. The situation is fluid, but the update on Sunday afternoon gives Chicago a far better hand than it had earlier in the weekend.
The Eagles, meanwhile, also issued several injury designations ahead of the game. And on a broader note, Zach Ertz remains a practice squad player whose elevation depends on his fitness, with Ertz saying his body feels good but admitting he is still “a little rusty” after not playing football in nine and a half months.
For the Bears, though, the main development is simple: Tyson Bagent is back in the mix, and that makes Monday night look very different from the way it did on Saturday.
