Bears quarterback situation gets even worse with Tyson Bagent injury

According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, backup quarterback Tyson Bagent is dealing with a concussion and has entered the NFL's concussion protocol.

With Caleb Williams already considered unlikely to play Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles because of his hamstring injury, Case Keenum could now be in line to start.

It's a stunning development for a Bears team that entered Week 2 with one of the NFL's more stable quarterback rooms and could now be forced to turn to its third option.

Case Keenum could start for Bears against Eagles

Bagent replaced Williams after the Bears' starting quarterback suffered a right hamstring injury during the fourth quarter of Sunday's 9-3 loss to Minnesota.

Bagent completed 5 of 9 passes for 54 yards before being leveled by Dallas Turner on Chicago's final offensive play. He was in line to become the Bears' starter if Williams couldn't return against Philadelphia.

Now that's suddenly in question.

Bagent must progress through the NFL's concussion protocol before he can return to game action. There is no predetermined timetable for clearance, and players must ultimately receive clearance from both the team physician and an independent neurological consultant.

That puts Keenum under the spotlight.

The 38-year-old veteran is the QB3 on Chicago's depth chart behind Williams and Bagent, and while he has extensive NFL starting experience, the last thing Bears fans expected to see in the team's first primetime game was Keenum under center.

Williams is week-to-week with his hamstring injury, and Rapoport said earlier Tuesday that it "certainly seems" unlikely Williams will start against Philadelphia.

Now Bagent's availability is uncertain, too.

The Bears have nearly a full week before Monday night's game, which gives Bagent time to potentially clear protocol. But until that happens, Chicago has to prepare for the very real possibility that Keenum will be its starting quarterback against the Eagles.