You never like to see your franchise quarterback go down with an injury. And you definitely don't like seeing your backup quarterback get injured in the same week, and the Chicago Bears are learning that lesson.
After Caleb Williams' non-contact hamstring injury, his backup Tyson Bagent is now in concussion protocol. This leaves 38-year-old journeyman Case Keenum as the last quarterback standing.
Obviously, this isn't an ideal situation for a Bears team that looked poised to compete for their first Super Bowl since 1985. Desperate for depth at the game's most important position, the Bears should call Desperate Howie Roseman and the Philadelphia Eagles and close a deal for backup quarterback Tanner McKee.
Bears could call their Week 3 opponents to see if Tanner McKee is available
This isn't the first time McKee has been linked to a trade that would ship him away from the City of Brotherly Love. Bleacher Report hailed him as a top trade candidate at the backup quarterback position alongside names like Mac Jones and J.J. McCarthy.
When you watch the tape on McKee, it's easy to see why other teams around the league are so interested in him. A Stanford graduate with a 6-foot-6 frame, McKee has been outstanding as Jalen Hurts backup quarterback since the Eagles drafted him in 2023.
He hasn't seen much playing time, but in the few chances he's had, McKee has given the NFL world a sneak peek at what he's capable of—going 1-1 in his career starts while throwing for 597 yards, five touchdowns, and an interception.
Perhaps the best moment in his young career was filling in for a concussed Jalen Hurts and helping the Eagles secure home-field advantage and the No. 2 seed in the NFC. That win during the 2024 season's stretch run played a key role in helping the Eagles win their second Super Bowl.
The Bears could use a quarterback like this. Yes, starting for the Bears would be the biggest test of his career so far, but it's worth a chance. Ben Johnson is an offensive mastermind and has found success with every quarterback he's worked with. McKee could find some level of success in Johnson's offense.
Playing for the Bears is also a best-case scenario for McKee, who is in the final year of his contract with the Eagles. If he strings together a few good games with the Bears, he could be in the running for a deal similar to what Malik Willis got this offseason.
Given McKee's background and skill set, the Eagles will most likely ask for a second- or third-round pick for him. This really isn't a bad asking price, especially for a Bears team that wants to continue piling up wins early in what is shaping up to be a competitive NFC North.
If this trade actually goes down, it makes sense that the two parties would close a deal after their Monday Night Football game this week. It's rare for a team to trade a player to the team they're about to play.
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McKee has been the subject of trade rumors for several years and has previously been linked to the Seattle Seahawks and the New Orleans Saints.
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