The Chicago Bears received encouraging news regarding Caleb Williams' recovery Thursday, but the starting quarterback is not ready to guarantee his return against the Atlanta Falcons.
Williams was listed as a full participant in practice for the second consecutive day as he continues recovering from a right hamstring injury that has kept him sidelined for Chicago's last three games.
According to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, the latest development puts Williams on track to start Sunday's Week 6 matchup against Atlanta.
However, Williams made it clear that his availability remains uncertain.
Speaking with reporters Thursday, the former No. 1 overall pick said he still does not know whether he will play Sunday and has additional steps to complete before receiving clearance.
According to the Athletics' Adam Jahns, Williams said he still has a "stress test" and other evaluations to pass before determining whether he can return.
The comments add another layer of uncertainty to what initially appeared to be an increasingly promising injury update. Although Williams has made significant progress, his participation in practice does not necessarily mean he will be ready for game action.
The Bears must still determine whether his injured hamstring can withstand the physical demands of playing quarterback, particularly when scrambling or attempting to escape pressure.
Williams suffered the injury during Chicago's Week 2 loss to the Minnesota Vikings while attempting to score on a fourth-quarter scramble. He has not played since, forcing the Bears to rely on backup quarterbacks Tyson Bagent and Case Keenum.
Chicago managed to win two of its first three games without Williams, but the offense struggled considerably during last Sunday's loss to the Green Bay Packers.
The Bears fell 31-7 as Bagent threw two interceptions before being replaced by Keenum. Keenum also struggled, leaving Chicago with additional questions about its offense heading into Week 6.
Getting Williams back would provide a significant boost for a team looking to regain the offensive rhythm it displayed earlier in the season. However, Bears head coach Ben Johnson has repeatedly emphasized that the team will prioritize Williams' health when determining who starts against Atlanta.
Speaking Wednesday, Johnson acknowledged that the quarterback situation remained unresolved despite Williams' progress.
"It's still fluid, but I feel good about the plan that we have in place at this point," Johnson said.
Johnson also explained that Chicago must consider both the immediate matchup and the long-term implications of bringing its starting quarterback back too soon.
"First and foremost, health is the No. 1 priority for all three guys," Johnson said.
The coach has not publicly committed to Williams, Bagent or Keenum as Sunday's starter.
Williams' recovery has nevertheless taken an encouraging turn.
After returning to practice on a limited basis late last week, he was listed as a full participant Wednesday and Thursday. Wednesday's designation was based on an estimated injury report because the Bears conducted a walkthrough rather than a regular practice.
Thursday's full participation listing represented another positive step as the team continued preparing for Atlanta.
Before suffering the injury, Williams had completed 63.5% of his passes for 407 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also contributed 65 rushing yards and two touchdowns, demonstrating the mobility that makes him an important part of Johnson's offensive system.
That ability to extend plays could be especially valuable against Atlanta, but it also creates additional concerns when evaluating a hamstring injury. The Bears must be confident that Williams can move comfortably and protect himself before allowing him to return.
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Chicago also faces a relatively quick turnaround following Sunday's game.
The Bears are scheduled to host the New England Patriots on Thursday, Oct. 22, giving the team another reason to consider the potential impact of rushing Williams back into action.
For now, Chicago enters the weekend with reason for optimism but without a definitive answer at quarterback.
Williams' comments suggest that the final decision will depend on how he responds to additional testing and whether the team's medical staff believes he is ready.
And while consecutive full practice designations are encouraging, the Bears' starting quarterback still has work to do before his return becomes official.