The Chicago Bears have managed to stay above .500 while star quarterback Caleb Williams recovers from a hamstring injury, but a 31-7 blowout loss to the Green Bay Packers in Week 5 showed just how crucial Williams’ recovery is.
Williams has missed the last three games after suffering a right hamstring injury against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 2. Chicago has gone 2-1 in the stretch of games without him, but the offensive performance last week left much to be desired. The Bears accumulated just 246 total yards and one touchdown.
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Tyson Bagent threw two interceptions to Packers safety Xavier McKinney and was later benched for Case Keenum, who threw a pick of his own.
The Bears are now preparing for a Week 6 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, while still waiting on a final decision regarding Caleb Williams’ availability. His return would provide a major boost to an offense that has clearly lacked consistency in his absence.
Waiting on Williams
According to Bears insider Michal Dwojak, head coach Ben Johnson said on Friday that the team should have a clearer picture of Williams’ status by the end of the day.
Johnson also provided an encouraging update, stating Williams is “on track.”
He has progressed enough to be a full participant in practice, but the Bears have yet to confirm whether he is ready to suit up on Sunday.
Still Some Mystery
Williams’ handling of the injury has also generated attention for being somewhat unusual. He has been reluctant to share details of the injury since he felt early reporting did not accurately describe the severity, he said in a Bears press conference.
Williams received some criticism from fans online after being carted off in tears following his hamstring injury. He has since declined to share what grade his hamstring tear was, but ensured reporters at Thursday’s press conference knew that the injury was “pretty serious.”
While it has been difficult to get a clear read on Williams’ health, the Bears appear to remain cautious with his recovery. For now, it appears that he is trending in the right direction, and the team will hope to have an update on his condition by the end of Friday.
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