It's the ultimate dilemma for the Chicago Bears: should they start Tyson Bagent or Case Keenum at quarterback in Week 4 against the New York Jets?
This isn't an easy question to answer, and Bears head coach Ben Johnson has done a masterful job of throwing off his former co-worker, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn, with his defensive game plan. These are truly two different quarterback styles that work in multiple ways.
Chicago faces an interesting mystery about who will run the offense, with Caleb Williams likely ruled out due to his hamstring injury. The decision is tough, but we can compare the two to see whether one factor outweighs the other.
Why Case Keenum could work as Bears' starter in Week 4
Watch the tape from the 27-7 Week 3 win over the Philadelphia Eagles, and fans will easily see why Keenum should start. He completed 24-of-34 passes for 246 yards and two passing touchdowns, then added a fourth quarter rushing touchdown to cap off an incredible night.
What Keenum did in that game kind of showed everyone things they didn't expect from him. He's more often known as a pocket quarterback, but under heavy pressure from the Eagles, he somehow stayed on his back foot and held up in the pocket to complete the pass. In 11 passing attempts against the blitz, he completed all 11 passes.
The moxie and experience that Keenum brings to the position is hard to ignore. He's played in the league for a long time and has seen it all, throwing for 15,422 yards and 81 touchdowns with 51 interceptions.
Keenum has regular season experience that Bagent simply doesn't. Given that, and with the momentum he's riding from the Eagles game, Keenum is a good choice to start at quarterback.
Why Tyson Bagent could work as Bears' starter in Week 4
With Bagent, the athletic ability is there; it is similar to the style of play that Williams has. Bagent is underrated in how fast he is and what he can do with his legs.
Last season, Bears fans saw that Johnson acknowledged Bagent's athletic ability. At times, Bagent lined up as a receiver for Chicago and threw the defense off.
It's also worth noting that Johnson mentioned this week that Bagent was named the backup after training camp for a reason. That feels like a significant comment to make about a quarterback.
Yes, Bagent hasn't started a regular season game since 2023, but his preseason performances over the years show why he's stuck in Chicago as a backup. Plus, the Bears gave him a contract extension last year, so they are investing in him as a backup, not just letting him sit second fiddle to Keenum.
Who ultimately should start at QB for the Bears against the Jets?
At the end of the day, the Bears really can't go wrong with any choice at quarterback. That's mostly because Johnson has proven he can coach any quarterback, with his system being the perfect complement to any scheme.
Bagent was named the backup for a reason, so it only seems fair that he should get the starter. A player should never lose their job to injury; that's the golden rule in sports, even though it doesn't always get followed.
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Either way, the Bears are going to be in good hands with either Bagent or Keenum, and any argument would work between the two. It should be acknowledged that this is a great problem for the Bears to have, and fans should no doubt appreciate that.
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