Chicago Bears backup quarterback Case Keenum showed no signs of rust as he suited up for his first NFL game in three years.
Bears head coach Ben Johnson was forced to turn to the veteran third stringer for the team’s Week 3 clash against the Philadelphia Eagles after a blight of injuries to Chicago’s quarterback room.
The Bears were without both starting quarterback Caleb Williams after he suffered a right hamstring injury last week before backup Tyson Bagent was placed in the NFL concussion protocol midweek.
But that posed no issue to Chicago as Keenum stepped up to the task with the veteran leading the Bears to a 27-7 rout over the Eagles.
He outplayed 2025 Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts, throwing for his 80th and 81st touchdown passes of his career.
Keenum, who was making his 67th career start, got the Bears on the board early on after offloading the ball to wide receiver Luther Burden III who charged into the end zone for the opening touchdown.
Chicago Bears backup quarterback Case Keenum played his first NFL game in three years
The veteran stepped up for MNF after the Bears lost both Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent
He hit Kalif Raymond for a 41-yard touchdown on the Eagles’ busted coverage with 5:47 remaining in the third quarter.
He later punched it in himself, scoring his first rushing touchdown since 2019 on a one-yard run with 7:19 left.
The touchdown capping off a 58-yard, 13-play drive that took more than eight minutes off the clock.
The veteran threw 24-for-34 for a total of 247 yards with no interceptions, marking a triumphant return to the field.
The performance left football fans stunned on social media with many praising the unbelievable display from the 38-year-old signal caller and some even likening him to prime Tom Brady.
‘Case Keenum what the hell,’ one surprised fan wrote on X.
‘Why is Case Keenum going tf [sic] off like this lol,’ another bemused social media user questioned.
‘Case Keenum is playing QB a lot better than people were yesterday….,’ a third claimed, referring to Sunday’s slate of action.
The signal caller led Chicago to a 27-7 victory over 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,’ chimed in a fourth, referring to the New England Patriots starter who has struggled so far this season after reaching the Super Bowl in February.
‘Case Keenum is killing the Eagles,’ posted one, while another added: ‘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
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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.
