Bagent expected to start Week4; Keenum’s next assignment remains unannounced

Tyson Bagent is expected to start against the Jets on Sunday, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Friday evening, after taking most of the Bears' first-team practice repetitions. Ben Johnson has not publicly named his starter. Caleb Williams is out for a second consecutive game with a hamstring injury.

The report points toward Bagent moving ahead of Case Keenum for Week 4. Mike Florio independently reported Friday morning that Bagent had received the first-team work. Rapoport's evening account described the anticipated assignment while leaving Johnson's final announcement open.

Keenum started Monday against Philadelphia while Bagent was coming through the concussion protocol. Bagent was cleared before that game, but Johnson stayed with the veteran who had handled the preparation. Keenum completed 24 of 34 passes, threw two touchdowns and ran for another in the victory.

Bagent won the backup job out of training camp. His last start came in November 2023, and he has four career starts. A Sunday start would be his first since that rookie season.

Chicago hosts the Jets at 1 p.m. Eastern Sunday. Williams' absence is confirmed; the Bagent assignment remains Rapoport's reported expectation.