Bears and veteran QB Case Keenum finalize 1-year, $3 million deal

The Chicago Bears finalized a one-year, $3 million contract with quarterback Case Keenum on Friday, adding a veteran to back up Caleb Williams.

The 37-year-old Keenum spent the past two years in Houston with another prized quarterback in C.J. Stroud. He was also behind Baker Mayfield in Cleveland and Josh Allen in Buffalo before that.

Keenum has thrown for 15,175 yards over 12 years with Houston, the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota, Denver, Washington, Cleveland and Buffalo. He has 79 touchdown passes and 51 interceptions.

Keenum could push Tyson Bagent for the backup job. The Bears did not have an experienced quarterback last season to help Williams, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2024. Their third QB was Austin Reed, an undrafted rookie who spent the season on the practice squad.

The Bears also signed veteran receiver Miles Boykin and cornerback Shaun Wade to one-year contracts on Thursday.

Boykin, a third-round draft pick by Baltimore in 2019, has played in 73 games and started 25 for the Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. He has 38 receptions for 498 yards and seven touchdowns.

Boykin spent parts of last season on the practice squads of the New York Giants and Seattle Seahawks. He grew up about 30 miles south of Soldier Field in Tinley Park, Ill., and played at Notre Dame.

Wade played in 20 games with New England from 2021 to 2023. The former Ohio State star spent last season on the Los Angeles Chargers' practice squad.

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