Filling in for injured starter Caleb Williams, the well-traveled veteran threw for 247 yards and two touchdowns and added a rushing score in a 27-7 win over previously unbeaten Philadelphia — a performance good enough to raise a real question about how fast Chicago should bring Williams back.
Case Keenum turned back the clock Monday night, leading the Chicago Bears to a 27-7 win over the previously unbeaten Philadelphia Eagles at Soldier Field in his first start since 2023 — and in doing so, gave his team something to think about regarding star quarterback Caleb Williams’ return timeline.
Keenum Delivers a Vintage Performance
With Williams sidelined by a hamstring injury suffered against the Minnesota Vikings, the 38-year-old Keenum stepped in and was nearly flawless. He finished 24 of 34 for 247 yards and two passing touchdowns, adding a rushing touchdown on a sneak late in the fourth quarter to help put the game away.
That rushing score made Keenum the oldest player in Bears history to score a rushing touchdown, breaking a mark previously held by Dave Krieg, and made him the second-oldest quarterback in franchise history to win a start.
Bears coach Ben Johnson didn’t hold back in his praise afterward. “It’s all about Case Keenum and what he was able to do here tonight,” Johnson said. “I thought he did an extraordinary job.”
Chicago’s defense, under coordinator Vic Fangio’s system, also held up its end, keeping Philadelphia’s high-powered offense out of the end zone for most of the night and picking up the Bears’ first win over a previously unbeaten Eagles team this season.
A Warm Moment for Williams
Williams, watching from the sideline in a Bears cap, hoodie and sunglasses, was visibly thrilled for his teammate, running up to celebrate with Keenum after the game.
Johnson said the team would evaluate its quarterback plans going forward but made clear he wasn’t ready to hand the job back automatically. “We’ll have a discussion as a coaching staff and we’ll see where we need to go from here,” Johnson said, “but I said it last week and I’ll say it again: there was a reason why Tyson ended training camp as our No. 2 quarterback” — a nod to Tyson Bagent, who was passed over for the start in favor of Keenum’s veteran experience.
Should the Bears Rush Williams Back?
Williams has been considered week-to-week with his hamstring injury, and Monday’s performance from Keenum adds a wrinkle to how quickly Chicago should bring its franchise quarterback back onto the field. With the offense clicking and the defense playing well, there’s a reasonable case for the Bears to let Williams’ hamstring heal fully rather than rush him into a lineup that just handed a top contender its first loss of the season.
It’s worth noting the sample size: Keenum is currently third on Chicago’s quarterback depth chart, behind both Williams and Bagent, and Monday marked just one game. Still, for a Bears team with real postseason ambitions this year, not having to gamble on a still-healing hamstring is a luxury worth having.
What’s Next
The win improves Chicago’s record and hands Philadelphia, previously undefeated, its first loss of the season. The Bears will provide further updates on Williams’ recovery timeline as the week progresses, with Johnson and his staff expected to make a final call on the starting quarterback closer to Chicago’s next matchup.
