Ben Johnson Faces First Start Without a Former No. 1 Pick at QB
The short version
- Bears head coach Ben Johnson has only opened games with former No. 1 overall picks (Jared Goff, Caleb Williams) as a head coach or offensive coordinator.
- Caleb Williams is expected to miss Week 3 against the Eagles with a hamstring injury suffered in a 9-3 loss to Minnesota.
- Case Keenum or Tyson Bagent (in concussion protocol) would start in Williams' place.
- Williams has over 4,300 passing yards and 29 touchdowns in just over a season under Johnson.
With Caleb Williams sidelined by a hamstring injury, the Bears' Week 3 game against Philadelphia marks uncharted territory for their head coach.
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson will reach a career first in Week 3. According to former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel, the Monday night matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles will be the first game Johnson has opened as either a head coach or an offensive coordinator without a former No. 1 overall draft pick starting at quarterback.
Johnson's quarterback résumé includes Caleb Williams in Chicago and Jared Goff during his time as Detroit's offensive coordinator. Williams hurt his hamstring in a 9-3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings and is expected to sit out Week 3, though the injury is not considered season-ending.
In his place, the Bears would turn to veteran Case Keenum or Tyson Bagent, who remains in the league's concussion protocol. The situation has drawn comparisons to Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco, where seventh-round pick Brock Purdy developed into an All-Pro-caliber quarterback after the 49ers had selected Trey Lance third overall in 2021.
Williams, playing in Johnson's system for just over a season, has thrown for more than 4,300 yards and 29 touchdowns. Purdy, meanwhile, has completed over 80 percent of his passes with five touchdown throws through two games in 2026.
