Chicago Bears backup quarterback Case Keenum looked anything but rusty in his first NFL appearance in three years.
Head coach Ben Johnson was forced to call on the veteran third-string quarterback for Chicago’s Week 3 matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles after injuries depleted the team’s quarterback room.
The Bears were without starter Caleb Williams, who sustained a right hamstring injury the previous week, while backup Tyson Bagent entered the NFL’s concussion protocol midway through the week.
Those setbacks did little to slow Chicago down, with Keenum guiding the Bears to a commanding 27-7 victory over Philadelphia.
He outperformed 2025 Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts while throwing the 80th and 81st touchdown passes of his career.
Making his 67th career start, Keenum put Chicago ahead early when he found wide receiver Luther Burden III, who raced into the end zone for the game’s opening touchdown.
Chicago Bears backup quarterback Case Keenum made his first NFL appearance in three years
The veteran was called into action after the Bears lost both Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent
With 5:47 remaining in the third quarter, Keenum capitalized on a blown Eagles coverage, connecting with Kalif Raymond for a 41-yard touchdown.
He added a touchdown of his own later in the game, scoring on a one-yard run with 7:19 left for his first rushing touchdown since 2019.
The score completed a 58-yard, 13-play drive that consumed more than eight minutes.
Keenum finished 24 of 34 passing for 247 yards without throwing an interception, delivering a memorable return to NFL action.
His display stunned football fans on social media, with many celebrating the 38-year-old quarterback’s unexpected brilliance and some comparing him to Tom Brady in his prime.
“Case Keenum what the hell,” one surprised fan wrote on X.
“Why is Case Keenum going tf [sic] off like this lol,” another bemused user posted.
“Case Keenum is playing QB a lot better than people were yesterday…,” a third fan wrote, referencing Sunday’s games.
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The quarterback led Chicago to a 27-7 win against the Philadelphia Eagles
Keenum scored his first rushing touchdown since 2019 on a one-yard run in the fourth quarter
“Case Keenum already got more passing touchdowns than Drake Maye,” another fan added, referring to the New England Patriots starter, who has struggled this season after reaching the Super Bowl in February.
“Case Keenum is killing the Eagles,” one person posted, while another wrote: “Absolutely no f***s from Case Keenum. This is probably his last start ever and he’s going out chucking.”
Keenum is in his second season with Johnson and Chicago after signing with the team in April 2025.
Monday night’s matchup was his first regular-season action since he started for Houston in a 36-22 loss to Cleveland on December 24, 2023.
Keenum has now played in 81 regular-season games, including his NFL debut in 2013 with the Texans. He was 30-36 as a starter going into the matchup with the Eagles.
Raymond had six receptions for 90 yards and a touchdown as Chicago (2-1) bounced back after an ugly 9-3 loss to Minnesota.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia turned the ball over three times and failed to record a takeaway for the third consecutive game to begin the season. Hurts was 16 for 25 for 153 yards with an interception, and Saquon Barkley rushed for 82 yards on 15 carries.
Trailing 7-0, Hurts drove Philadelphia deep into Chicago territory in the second quarter before he absorbed a late hit by linebacker D’Marco Jackson along the sideline. Hurts was pulled off the field to be checked for a concussion, and backup Andy Dalton was intercepted by rookie Dillon Thieneman in the back of the end zone with 6:14 left.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was 16 for 25 for 153 yards with an interception
The 38-year-old is congratulated by his elated teammates after carrying the ball for a TD
Hurts scored on a quarterback sneak as time expired in the first half, but Chicago (2-1) controlled the final two periods.
Hurts was picked off by linebacker T.J. Edwards late in the third quarter. Edwards dropped a potential interception on third down on Philadelphia’s first drive of the second half.
Chicago finished with 24 first downs and 128 yards rushing. The Bears had 28 first downs and 281 yards on the ground in a 24-15 win at Philadelphia last season.
The Bears next host the 1-2 New York Jets at Soldier Field on Sunday.
