Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson sent Case Keenum out for a single ceremonial snap against the New York Jets to counter premature media leaks, with the Elias Sports Bureau officially crediting Keenum with the start and the victory in the 23-12 win.
The Chicago Bears secured a 23-12 win over the New York Jets at Soldier Field. With starting quarterback Caleb Williams still sidelined by a Grade 2 hamstring strain, head coach Ben Johnson orchestrated a quarterback lineup that caught both opponents and reporters off guard. Instead of handing the entire opening sequence to Tyson Bagent, Johnson sent 38-year-old veteran Case Keenum onto the field for the game’s first snap, with Bagent lined up wide at wide receiver.
Keenum handed the ball off for a short gain to running back D’Andre Swift on an outside zone run to the left, stepped off the field, and did not take another snap all afternoon. Bagent took over for the remaining 93 plays as Chicago ground out a dominant performance. According to an NFL spokesman clarifying the ruling through the Elias Sports Bureau, Keenum officially received credit for both the start and the victory. Keenum is 32-36 in his career, including 2-0 as the Bears’ starter this season, while Bagent stands at 2-2.
Chicago recorded 34 first downs while holding the Jets to just 32 total plays, which stands as the fourth-lowest total in NFL history. The Bears dominated the time of possession 42:45 to 17:15 and did not punt once all afternoon. Kyle Monangai did the majority of the scoring with two rushing touchdowns, while Cairo Santos added a field goal.
Ben Johnson Reveals Why He Started Case Keenum
Johnson made no secret of his motivation during his postgame press conference, explaining that the stunt was designed to push back against premature reports circulating late in the week about who would lead the offense.
“I got all these memos saying Tyson was starting before I ever made an announcement, so I wanted to get Case out there first time. It was like his ceremonial first pitch out there, handing off the torch.”
When told that the victory would go on Keenum’s record, Johnson responded, Good for him. I think the team gets credited for a win.
Tyson Bagent Keeps Starting Role for Green Bay Game
Johnson confirmed that Tyson Bagent will remain the starter as the Bears prepare to face the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in Week 5. Caleb Williams remains unavailable as he works through a three-to-four-week recovery timeline for his hamstring injury suffered September 20 against the Minnesota Vikings.
Bagent found out he was going to start against the Jets on Wednesday morning when Case Keenum texted him at home. Bagent completed 25 of 34 passes for 268 yards against one interception. Johnson offered a bluntly honest review of his quarterback’s outing, noting that the performance was a mixed bag, praising his operational command and tempo while noting that the coaching staff wants him to maintain his aggressiveness and pull the trigger on downfield opportunities.
The coaching staff chose Bagent over Keenum, who was stellar a week prior in a 27-7 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles by completing 70.6% of his passes for 247 yards, two touchdowns, and a rushing score without a turnover. With Williams sidelined, Bagent now has the opportunity to lead the Bears on the road against their division rivals in Week 5.
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