The Chicago Bears expect Caleb Williams to miss time after the quarterback suffered a right hamstring injury in Sunday’s 9-3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, although the initial outlook suggests the team avoided a season-altering setback.
Key takeaways
- Head coach Ben Johnson described Williams’ status as week to week.
- Williams hurt his right hamstring while scrambling during the fourth quarter against Minnesota.
- The Bears quarterback was taken off the field on a cart and brought to the locker room.
- Chicago is scheduled to face the Philadelphia Eagles in a prime-time Week 3 matchup on Sept. 28.
- Tyson Bagent would be positioned to start if Williams cannot play.
Bears awaiting fuller medical update
Johnson said he still needed to speak with Chicago’s training staff before providing a more definitive timetable, but indicated that Williams is likely to be sidelined for at least some period.
“It appears to be week to week,” Johnson said. “I still have to connect with our trainer shortly and get the full information, but it looks like he will probably be out for some time.”
The coach struck a cautiously optimistic tone when asked whether the Bears had escaped a more serious injury. Johnson pointed to Williams’ toughness and his ability to recover from physical setbacks, while stressing that the team must wait for further medical clarity.
“Possibly,” Johnson said. “We’ll find out. He’s a tough player, and he rebounds from these things better than most people.”
Bagent could take over against Philadelphia
Williams was injured late in the fourth quarter while attempting a scramble in Chicago’s defensive struggle against the Vikings. The quarterback left the field on a cart as the Bears went on to absorb the six-point defeat.
If Williams is unavailable for the Sept. 28 meeting with Philadelphia, Bagent is expected to take the first-team role. The Week 3 contest will put Chicago’s backup quarterback in the spotlight against an Eagles team coming to town for a prime-time game.
