OCTOBER 15: Williams is “likely to return on Sunday barring a setback,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said on Thursday morning. His participation on Wednesday was a positive sign, and despite Johnson’s uncertainty, a full week of full practices will likely see him back on the field against the Falcons.
OCTOBER 14: The Bears have been without starting quarterback Caleb Williams since he was carted off the field in Week 2 with a hamstring injury. After returning to practice on a limited basis last Friday, the third-year passer’s first entry on this week’s practice report will show him as a full participant, per Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Though Williams looks likely to get a week of full participation in Week 6, there’s a chance he might not be able to return to NFL play this weekend. Head coach Ben Johnson told reporters today that the starter for Sunday’s trip to Atlanta is up in the air even if they were to decide Williams can’t go. “No determination has been made, in terms of what direction we’re going.” Johnson said when asked who would be Williams’ injury replacement (via ESPN’s Courtney Cronin). “There are a lot of things we’re assessing right now.”
To open the season, the primary backup quarterback was Tyson Bagent, the undrafted passer out of Shepherd in 2023. Bagent started four games his rookie year, winning two of those contests, but has only appeared in seven games since Williams was drafted No. 1 overall in 2024. When Williams went down in the second game of the year, Bagent was the one to fill in, but he suffered a concussion that would keep him on the sideline in Week 3.
With Williams and Bagent out, 38-year-old Case Keenum subbed in to make his first game appearance since the 2023 NFL season. Keenum didn’t show any rust, completing 70.6 percent of his passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns to take down the Eagles, 27-7. In Week 4, Bagent found his way off the injury report, and after Johnson allowed Keenum to get the official start with a ceremonious appearance on the game’s first play, Bagent was given the reins for the rest of the game. With 268 passing yards on a 73.5 completion percentage, Bagent led the Bears to a 23-12 win over the Jets.
Bagent was tabbed as the official starter for the team’s Week 5 trip to Green Bay, but late in the third quarter, Bagent would throw his second interception of the day, after which the Packers would score their final touchdown of the day to give the home team a 31-7 lead. His day ended after that pass with 87 passing yards on a 57.1-percent completion rate and no touchdowns. Keenum subbed in for the fourth quarter and was able to amass 108 yards on 11 of 19 passing with an interception of his own and no touchdowns.
Ideally, Chicago sees a great week of practice from Williams, and he’ll be able to start the rest of season, leaving no further questions for his head coach to answer. If his hamstring isn’t quite ready to go, though, Johnson will need to decide which of Bagent or Keenum gives the team its best shot at winning in Atlanta. He’s seen good wins from both, but neither looked great in Green Bay. They’ll have their hands full with multiple decisions to make for Week 6.
If Williams is unable to go this weekend, he wouldn’t be the only one missing from game day for the Bears. According to Adam Jahns of CHGO Sports, Johnson informed the media that defensive tackle Dayo Odeyingbo will “miss some time” with a quadriceps injury. The former Colts interior defender has been on fire to start 2026, with three sacks in five games, but the team will have to look to its depth on the defensive line while Odeyingbo recovers.
Williams is also not alone in his struggle with hamstring issues. Jahns added that starting linebacker T.J. Edwards is week-to-week and starting cornerback Tyrique Stevenson is day-to-day as they deal with hamstring injuries of their own.
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