Bears' Case Keenum has high praise for HC Ben Johnson ahead of possible start

Ben Johnson has called plays for Jared Goff in Detroit and Caleb Williams in Chicago without ever turning to a backup quarterback for a start, a streak that could end on Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Williams hurt his hamstring late in last Sunday's 9-3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings ; Tyson Bagent is in the concussion protocol, and Case Keenum is the one taking the practice reps.

Keenum has not started a regular-season game since 2023 with Houston. Speaking at Halas Hall on Wednesday, Keenum turned to the coach who brought him back.

"I've been around a lot of great coaches in my lifetime. My dad being my first one, and I see just about every coach I've ever had like kind of like a father figure. Now we're a little closer to brothers, I think, than we are father. But that respect I have for great coaches, man. You just want to run through a brick wall for the man," Keenum said. "He's gonna go down as probably the best play caller, play designer, coach, all of the above when it's all said and done. Some of the stuff that man does is unbelievable, and the way he sees the game, the way he's able to prepare guys, the way he's able to lead."

"I was retired, and he called two years ago," Keenum said. "There weren't a lot of phone calls coming, and he called, and we met, and supposed to meet for like 15 minutes, and wound up talking for two and a half hours, and I'm like, okay, I want to do it. I want to do it with this guy. I've found the love of football again working with him."