Good morning, Bears fans!
No game until Monday night, so you can expect the usual preview, predictions and three stats to know in that morning’s issue.
For today, let’s just get to know Case Keenum a bit.
Then go ahead and enjoy your weekend … because man has it been a week.
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Headlines
Crowded Injury Report The Bears didn’t practice on Thursday, but had to provide a participation estimate anyway. Caleb Williams, Tyson Bagent and Tyrique Stevenson did not take part in make-believe practice, which was expected. Of bigger surprise (and also concern) were the theoretical DNPs for Kyle Monangai (knee) and Cairo Santos (right hip). No way will the Bears beat the Eagles without a strong rushing attack and on-point special teams game.
Saquon Expects To Play The Eagles running back practiced (for real) on Thursday, albeit with a neck roll after suffering a stinger in Tennessee. DNPs to watch for the Eagles include DeVonta Smith (hamstring), TE Dallas Goedert (knee) and Tank Bigsby (abdomen).
Packers Get Pantsed What amazing therapy it was to see Green Bay get so trounced 35-14 by the Falcons last night that their own fans actually started booing. 500 yards of offense for the Falcons including exactly 194 yards and two touchdowns for both Brian Robinson (rushing) and Drake London (receiving). Think Caleb won’t be trying his best to be back for that game in Lambeau on October 11?
Meet Case Keenum
Chicago Bears/YouTube
“This escalated quickly, huh?”
Those were Case Keenum’s words upon taking the podium for the traditional starting quarterback press conference at Halas Hall on Wednesday.
And he couldn’t be more right.
Two weeks ago, Keenum’s chances of starting a game in Week 3 appeared as likely as the odds of him postponing his retirement to play for Ben Johnson before last season.
But both situations have proved you can never say never and it looks like Keenum is about to see both long shots come in.
That’s assuming Tyson Bagent doesn’t clear concussion protocol and Caleb Williams refrains from making a dramatic comeback for the Monday Night Football cameras, of course.
Keenum’s been a familiar name to NFL fans for the last 15 seasons and a familiar face at Halas Hall for a year-plus.
But he’s largely been the guy behind the guy (or guys), especially in recent years, which is why I thought a small primer might be in order.
11 quick things to know about Case Keenum
(In honor of his jersey number)
The Bears are his eighth NFL team: Texans (2x), Rams, Vikings, Broncos, Washington, Browns, Bills. He had a start for everyone but Buffalo. Monday would put him at starts for seven teams, still two shy of Ryan Fitzpatrick’s record of nine.
He doesn’t like when people point out he’s 38 years old: Keenum had a little fun with a Halas Hall reporter this week who twice mentioned his age when asking a question.
There are still five active quarterbacks who are older than him: Aaron Rodgers, Joe Flacco, Josh Johnson, Andy Dalton and Matthew Stafford (who was born just 10 days earlier).
He lost all eight starts that he made for the 2013 Houston Texans. He built up a lot of character between that and sitting on the practice squad for the 2012 season.
He’s the leading passer in Division I FBS history. But 19,217 yards at Houston still weren’t enough to get him drafted. Just like being the leading passer in Division II history wasn’t enough to get a guy named Tyson Bagent drafted 11 years later. Small world.
He’ll always been known for the Minnesota Miracle: His walkoff 61-yard touchdown to Stefon Diggs was one of the most shocking moments in playoff history and the biggest highlight of a 2017 season that saw him go 11-3 after taking over for an injured Sam Bradford.
He also has playoff beef against the Eagles: It wasn’t as sudden as the Double Doink, but the 38-7 drubbing by the Eagles the week after the Miracle had to sting all the same.
He’s made $60 million in career earnings. That’s almost $1 million for each of his 66 career starts.
He was the last starting quarterback for both the St. Louis Rams (2015) and Washington Redskins (2019). I don’t think he’ll stick around long enough to be the last quarterback of the “Chicago” Bears, but you never know.
He’s only 647 days younger than Ben Johnson: Keenum says he usually likes to view his head coaches as father figures but allows that his relationship with Johnson is “a little closer to brothers." Keenum talked glowingly about Johnson on Wednesday saying “I have found the love of football again, working with him.”
If he starts on Monday, it will have been 1,009 days since his regular season start and appearance. That was a Christmas Eve appearance for the Texans in a loss to the Browns. Keenum completed 11 of 17 passes for 62 yards and two interceptions before being relieved by Davis Mills.
But as a backup quarterback, it’s his job to be ready to go on Monday night. As Johnson said of Keenum: “He’s been a baller from the day he was born.”
Worth Your Time
• Jerry Markarian thinks the Bears have a major problem brewing in the linebacking corps. (Sports Illustrated)
• Luis Medina looks at the matchup with “old friend Vic Fangio.” (Bleacher Nation)
• Jim McMahon rehashed the origins of his ongoing beef with Dan Hampton during his new podcast with Sean Salisbury. (Twitter)
• Switch around the names and the outlets and this look at the “Eagles Media Industrial Complex” may as well be about Chicago and Halas Hall. (Philly Mag)
Support Bears By 7
• SHOP: BreakingT has great football gear, but they’re also the place to celebrate the city’s baseball teams. (North Side | South Side)
• SHOP: In case you want a Case Keenum jersey (Fanatics)
• TAILGATE: Tickets still available for the Tailgreeter/CHGO tailgate at the corner of Cermak and Wabash on Monday! (Tailgreeter)
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