Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams exited Sunday’s 9-3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field after suffering a non-contact right hamstring injury in the fourth quarter. Williams was unable to put weight on the leg. He was assisted off the field by medical personnel and was taken to the locker room on a cart.
How did Caleb Williams get injured?
The injury occurred with 7:27 remaining in the fourth quarter as Chicago trailed 6-3. On first-and-goal from the Minnesota 6-yard line, Williams rolled to his left on a scramble toward the end zone. As he planted his right foot on the wet turf, he pulled up abruptly, clutched the back of his right leg, and dropped to his knees without being contacted by a defender.
Williams went down in pain before athletic trainers checked on him. There were early concerns about a major ligament or Achilles injury, but the Bears diagnosed him with a right hamstring strain.
Before leaving, Williams completed 15 of 26 passes for 138 yards and one interception. He also ran for 42 yards on five carries. Tyson Bagent replaced him and finished the drive with a blocked game-tying field goal attempt. Bagent later led a final drive that ended on downs at the Minnesota 12-yard line.
Ben Johnson shares Caleb Williams’ injury update
Chicago head coach Ben Johnson confirmed the hamstring strain after the game and said early tests showed no knee damage.
“I’m actually happy it’s nothing with the knee, that was my first inclination,” Johnson said. “But yeah, a hamstring can be pretty damaging as well. We’ll see how bad it is tomorrow and we’ll go from there. It’s quickly you’ve got to turn the page. He’s in good spirits. He’s a team player.”
Williams left the locker room on his own without crutches, with only a slight limp. Wide receiver Rome Odunze also said he expects Williams to return soon.
Caleb Williams’ expected return timeline
Williams is scheduled to undergo an MRI in Chicago to determine the severity of his hamstring strain. According to NBC Sports’ Mike Florio, early testing gave the Bears some optimism that the injury is not serious. The Bears hopes the MRI shows a Grade 1 strain, which typically involves minor muscle damage and a 1- to 3-week recovery.
A Grade 2 strain involves a partial tear and can take three to six weeks to heal, while a Grade 3 strain is a full tear that can require surgery and months of recovery. Williams previously dealt with a hamstring strain in his other leg at USC. Still, since his game relies on scrambling and throwing on the move, the Bears will want him fully healed before he returns to avoid another injury.
Who will replace Caleb Williams as the Bears’ QB1?
The Bears (1-1) will host the Philadelphia Eagles (2-0) at Soldier Field on Sunday. If Williams is ruled out, Tyson Bagent will take the first-team reps in practice and start at quarterback. Bagent has played in six NFL games, including four starts in 2023. Chicago also has third-string quarterback Austin Reed on its practice squad.
