Chicago Bears quarterback battle heats up with OTAs underway

Caleb Williams is the quarterback king of the Chicago Bears, no matter how any offseason article tries to portray him. But when it comes to Williams’ backup, the Bears are hosting a true battle between two intriguing names.

Tyson Bagent has been the backup ever since his arrival to Chicago in 2023. However, the team signed veteran Case Keenum to a one-year contract this offseason. There is a world the Bears keep both on the roster, as the Detroit Lions consistently kept three quarterbacks throughout Ben Johnson’s tenure with the team. Still, only one of them can be QB2.

It may not be as pertinent a battle as running back or left tackle, but fans will be watching Bagent and Keenum’s performance all the way through training camp. In OTAs, neither quarterback necessarily separated themselves, as both Bagent and Keenum took reps with the backups, via Mark Carman of CHGO.

Top 3 Takeaways from Bears OTA 5-21-25:

1. Ben Johnson is intense. Screamed at Cole Kmet for what appeared to be lining up incorrectly.

2. Caleb Williams did not have his best day. Ball came out slow at times, off the mark.

3. Case Keenum and Tyson Bagent both got #2 reps.

— Mark Carman (@thecarm) May 21, 2025

Tyson Bagent vs Case Keenum for Chicago Bears QB2

Bagent signed with the Bears as an undrafted free agent out of Shepherd University. However, he was thrown into the fire much earlier than anyone expected, starting four games as a rookie and appearing in five overall. Bagent went 2-2 as a starter, completing 65.7 percent of his passes for 859 yards, three touchdowns and six interceptions.

He wasn’t called on as much nearly during Williams’ rookie season. While he appeared in four games, Bagent attempted just two passes; to his credit, completing both for 11 yards. The quarterback’s numbers don’t jump off the page, but he made a sterling first impression in 2023. A clear favorite of the front office, general manager Ryan Poles has discussed the idea of a possible extension.

Keenum was out of the league in 2024. However, he has 11 years, 66 starts and 80 total NFL games of experience under his belt. The quarterback has gone 30-36 as a starter, completing 62.3 percent of his passes for 15,175 yards, 79 touchdowns and 51 interceptions. He has even started a pair of playoff games, earning one win.

Keenum played a crucial role in helping CJ Stroud get acclimated to the NFL with the Houston Texans. He’ll play a similar role with Williams, helping him get over his rookie year hurdles. For all the hype, Johnson is still a first-year head coach and Williams a second-year quarterback. Having a player like Keenum in the quarterback room gives both a strong mentor and voice of stability to lean on.

If it were up to the Bears, neither Keenum or Bagent would see the field in 2025 as Williams starts and stays healthy over the full 17-game season. But if he were to go down, Chicago wants to ensure they have the right backup option in place. The franchise has seen teams like the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys crumble after an injury to their starting quarterback.

Who ultimately lands the role is still up in the air. OTAs in the first step of the process, as Johnson will need much more intel before making a final decision. Both Bagent and Keenum come with a separate list of pros and cons. Johnson must decide what he values most before instilling his QB2. From there, the head coach must determine if he will keep three quarterbacks on his initial Bears roster.