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News

Newer update on Tyson Bagent: Caleb Williams throws TD to Colston Loveland on opening drive in Week 6 return

Tyson Bagent to Start for Bears in Week 4 vs. Jets

Chicago turns to Bagent as Caleb Williams remains out with a hamstring strain.

By Cole Hartwell
Caleb Williams
Photo: All-Pro Reels from District of Columbia, USA / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped) via Wikimedia Commons · License

The Bears are handing the starting job to Tyson Bagent for Sunday’s home game against the New York Jets, according to The Athletic. Caleb Williams remains unavailable while he recovers from a hamstring strain.

What happened

Bagent was the intended backup all along, but a concussion kept him out for most of last week, forcing Case Keenum into the lineup. Keenum delivered a memorable performance in Monday night’s 27-7 upset of the Eagles, throwing for 247 yards and two touchdowns.

That showing made the Week 4 decision a real conversation, but head coach Ben Johnson is reverting to his original No. 2. “There was a reason why Tyson ended training camp as our No. 2 quarterback,” Johnson said earlier this week.

The Bears will become just the third team in NFL history to start three different quarterbacks in the first four weeks of a season, and the first since the 1997 Jaguars, per CBS Sports Research.

Context

Bagent joined the Bears in 2023 as an undrafted free agent out of Shepherd University and made four starts as a rookie. He won his first career start against the Raiders, throwing for 162 yards and a touchdown, and later beat the Panthers in prime time.

He hasn’t started since that rookie year, but he signed a two-year, $10 million extension before the 2025 season. According to The Athletic, that made him the first Bears quarterback to sign an extension since Jay Cutler in January 2014.

What’s next

Bagent gets a chance to lead Chicago to its third win of the season, with Williams’ eventual return tied to his hamstring recovery.

🏈 Fantasy impact

Bagent is a low-end streaming option in Week 4. He offers limited rushing upside and has not played a regular-season snap since 2023, so expectations should be tempered even in a home matchup. Keenum’s strong showing against the Eagles won’t matter for fantasy lineups now that he’s back on the bench. Bears pass catchers may see a slight downgrade in efficiency with the less experienced Bagent under center, but volume should remain stable. In deeper superflex or 2QB leagues, Bagent can be considered as a desperation play, while Keenum belongs on the waiver wire in most formats.

Quick answers

Why is Tyson Bagent starting for the Bears?

Caleb Williams is out with a hamstring strain, and Bagent is the team's No. 2 quarterback behind him.

Is Case Keenum starting in Week 4?

No, Keenum returns to the bench after filling in last week, and Bagent will start against the Jets.

Sources

  1. Player data (Sleeper)
  2. Bears make starting QB decision for Week 4 matchup vs. Jets (CBS Sports)

This article was drafted by AI from the sources above and published after every claim passed an automatic check against those sources. Our editor monitors stories and corrects errors. How we work · Report an error