Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams avoided a major injury when he went down against Minnesota, but coach Ben Johnson said Monday that the Grade 1 hamstring strain is likely to make Williams a week to week decision.
Williams has not been ruled out for Chicago's next game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night. Johnson nevertheless acknowledged that the quarterback could miss time, which places backup Tyson Bagent in position to prepare for a possible start.
Encouraging results after a frightening exit
Williams was injured without contact during a fourth quarter scramble in Sunday's 9 to 3 loss to the Vikings. He grabbed his right hamstring, received help from the medical staff and was eventually taken from the field on a cart.
The initial scene created concern about a serious leg injury. Testing instead showed the mildest grade of hamstring strain, and reports indicated that Williams was walking after the game. The diagnosis is positive compared with the possible alternatives, but hamstring injuries can remain unpredictable when a quarterback needs mobility and acceleration.
Chicago prepares both quarterbacks
Bagent completed 5 of 9 passes for 54 yards after replacing Williams. He drove the Bears into position for a possible tying touchdown before Minnesota ended the game with a sack.
Johnson expressed confidence in Bagent's preparation and ability to run the offense if Williams cannot play. Bagent has four previous NFL starts, all during his rookie season in 2023.
Williams has started every game since Chicago selected him first overall in the 2024 draft. Through two games this season, he has completed 65.5 percent of his passes for 407 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
The Bears will now monitor how Williams responds to treatment throughout the week. Avoiding a major injury protects the broader outlook for Chicago's season, but the week to week designation means his availability against Philadelphia remains genuinely uncertain.
*Featured image: Caleb Williams during a Chicago Bears game, photographed by All Pro Reels. Licensed under [Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).*