Bears quarterback Caleb Williams’s hamstring injury is going to be a “week-to-week thing,” Chicago coach Ben Johnson said Monday in a radio interview on ESPN 1000.
Johnson did not put a definitive timeline on Williams’s recovery.
“He’s going to miss some time. I haven’t met with the trainers yet but will have the full lowdown,” Johnson said. “He does tend to recover from these things quickly.”
Williams was hurt when attempting to reach the end zone with a fourth-quarter scramble on the wet turf at Soldier Field. He awkwardly tumbled to the turf on his knees and rolled over a couple times in pain before the Bears’ medical staff attended to him.
The initial reporting on Sunday said that Williams sustained a Grade 1 hamstring strain. The Ringer reported that Williams could play next week against the Eagles, although Johnson’s statement suggests that scenario is doubtful.
The 24-year-old has made 36 consecutive starts since the Bears drafted him No 1 overall in 2024. He has completed 65.5% of his passes for 407 yards, two touchdowns and one interception this season for Chicago, who are 1-1 this season.
If Williams is unable to go next Monday against the Eagles, it would mark the first time Johnson has been forced to start a backup quarterback as an offensive play caller. Jared Goff started all 51 games for the Lions from 2022-24, when Johnson was Detroit’s offensive coordinator.
Chicago backup Tyson Bagent completed 5 of 9 passes for 54 yards in relief on Sunday. He has thrown for 971 yards, three TDs and six interceptions in 13 games (four starts) over the last four seasons. All four of his starts came as a rookie in 2023 for Chicago.
If Bagent is called upon to start, Johnson said he has confidence in the quarterback.
“He’s wired the right way. Having a full week of preparation can make all the difference in performance,” Johnson said of Bagent. “I said at the combine, we view him as one of the top 32 [quarterback in the NFL]. The way he approaches it, his teammates are going to fight their tails off for him.”