Chicago Bears’ Case Keenum feels ‘very prepared’ to start against Eagles on Monday night

0:00Meet the Red Bull Dragonberry Emergizer. It's one of the many new drinks out now. Who knew ice cold drinks could be so fire? Try them all only at my dogs. Chicago Bears' cake's kingdom feels very prepared to start against eagles on Monday night. Written by Michael Dwojak. This article is being read by an automated voice brought to you by Everlet. Case Kingdom found himself in an unfamiliar spot at Halles Hall on Wednesday afternoon. Kingdom was first in everything the Chicago Bears did as they started their first practice ahead of hosting the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday. He took the first snaps when the quarterbacks worked with quarterback coach JT Barrett. Kingdom delivered the first handoffs with the running backs. All is a sudden, Kingdom was the Bears number one quarterback and could be on Monday night in front of a national audience.

1:04I feel very prepared, Kingdom said at Halles Hall in Lake Forest. That's what I do every week. That's what I've done for a long time. I've backed up a long time in this league. So, you know, if my name's called, I'm excited to be out there. Kingdom ended up in the spot after a whirlwind couple of days for the team. It all started in the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss to the Minnesota Vikings when Caleb Williams left with a hamstring injury. Then the Bears quarterback room took another hit Tuesday when back up Tyson Baygent entered the NFL's concussion protocol. Suddenly on Wednesday, Kingdom became the team's only quarterback on the active roster who could practice along with practice squad quarterback Miller Moss. Bears head coach Ben Johnson first got wind of Baygent's injury on Tuesday morning. He received a text message that Baygent was going to be evaluated for concussion symptoms and that he'd been placed into protocol. Although Johnson wasn't sure when Baygent was injured Sunday, he guessed it was on third down.

2:04On the drive, he came in the fourth quarter when Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Dinkle tackled him. Baygent wasn't in the building Wednesday as part of protocol. Johnson wasn't sure what the next steps for him to potentially play Monday was and said he'll wait for the Bears trainers to tell him when Baygent will be available. The Bears also don't have a plan to bring in another quarterback this week. It's opportunity, Johnson said. It's the way I see it. I think our guy see it as that as well. One of those things that everyone outside the building I'm sure is writing us off and telling us it can't be done and we really relish that. So guys will step up to the plate. Guys that maybe we don't anticipate or expect we have a really talented team and it's been that way. Keenum last appeared in a game in 2023 when he started two games for the Houston Texans. Since then, Keenum spent 2024 on injured reserve with the Texans and as the third string last season with the Bears. Despite that, Johnson said Keenum brings plenty of experience and comfort in his second season in Johnson's system.

3:10Keenum started 66 games throughout his career, including two starts in the playoffs. He's thrown for 15,000 and 75 yards and 79 touchdowns over his 14 year career. The Bears weren't concerned about Keenum leading Johnson's offense if he has to play. They're just racing against time so that everyone can get used to Keenum's voice around the huddle and get on the same page before Monday's game. I feel as good mentally as I've ever felt. Keenum said, being able to see things before they happen having a lot of banked reps. So stuff I've done in the past, maybe we're not getting a ton of reps of it this week, but feel good about if I'm playing to be the one to run those plays. I think as far as operationally goes, I think we can do a lot of things pre-snap, try to get the right play when we can, and I think we can do a lot of fun stuff. In the meantime, Williams has been forced to adapt to a foreign role. Monday would be the first start, Williams has missed since the team selected him number one overall.

4:12Despite his ability to scramble, he's never had to deal with a serious injury since he came into the NFL. Johnson previously said that he doesn't expect Williams to play against the Eagles, but he also didn't rule Williams out for the game. Despite the uncertainty, Williams has been actively involved with the Bears game plan for Monday's game. Johnson said Williams has been out with the team for walkthroughs this week. Williams has also been part of the dialogue for the game to make sure that the Bears aren't missing anything going against Eagles defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio. It's important to Johnson and the Bears that Williams build a cadence when he's out with an injury. How can he impact those around him in the meantime? Johnson said, still being a great supporter in the quarterback room, walkthrough right now, making sure he's contributing ideas for what we want to get done. It's one of those things I know he's an antsy individual, he's a competitor, he wants to be out there on the grass going full speed, so it is a little bit more challenging to hold a guy back like that.

5:16But if you could build a player, that's what you'd want him to be like. Injury Updates, apart from the quarterback situation, Johnson provided some injury updates affecting the rest of the roster. Chicago opened up the practice windows for both defensive linemen, Shemre Turner and Linebacker Noah Suel. Both started the season on the physically unable to perform list, which meant they'd have to miss the first four games of the year. The team opened their 21 day practice window Wednesday, and the earliest they can play is week five at the Green Bay Packers. The news wasn't as good for the other member on the Bears Pub list. Johnson didn't provide an update for starting slot cornerback Kyler Gordon, who missed all of training camp with a calf injury. I've got nothing to add there, Johnson said. It's not encouraging news as the already injury hit Bear Secondary took another hit Sunday cornerback to Rick Stephenson left late in the game with a hamstring injury. And Johnson said Stephenson will be week to week.